Papers offer budget predictions

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There is a wealth of predictions for Chancellor Alistair Darling's pre-Budget report in the papers.

The Financial Times foresees "the biggest squeeze in public spending for a generation".

Sparing only schools, hospitals and the police from cuts averaging 14% over three years "sets out Labour's election battlelines", the FT adds.

However, the Daily Telegraph predicts <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/budget/6763441/Pre-Budget-report-Labour-puts-off-vital-cuts-until-after-the-election.html">postponed budget cuts</a> as "Darling aims to spend way out of crisis".

'War with City'

In addition to the expected super-tax on bonuses, the Guardian reports Gordon Brown is <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/dec/08/pre-budget-report-tax-banks">planning two more levies.</a>

Downing Street is to make the case for a transactions tax on all City trading and an insurance scheme to avoid future taxpayer bailouts.

The paper labels it a plan "to escalate Labour's growing war with the City".

The Independent front page reports a <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/exodus-of-the-bankers-1836772.html">"veiled threat"</a> from Barclays boss Bob Diamond, who warns "financial capital and human capital are extremely mobile".

'Finish the job'

The three-figure death toll of UK servicemen in Afghanistan this year continues to garner coverage.

Writing in the Times, <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6949309.ece">Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth</a> calls it a "conflict of necessity, not choice" that is "vital to the national security of the UK".

It will "cost more lives before we are finished", he warns, but "we must maintain momentum and get the job done".

The Telegraph agrees that "the greatest tribute to the fallen will be to stay the course until the job is done".

Turkeys and kippers

The traditional Christmas turkey is "off the menu", reports the Daily Mail, as more than half of UK families turn to alternatives like beef and lamb.

The figure of 10 million turkeys eaten in 2005 looks set to drop to about seven million this year, the Mail says.

Meanwhile, the Guardian introduces readers to "the kippers - kids in parents' pockets".

A quarter of men aged 25 to 29 <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/dec/08/young-adults-living-parental-home-ons">live with their parents,</a> where, the paper points out, "meals are hot, the fridge is always full and the rent is free".