Which turned out to be more of a whimper.

Four LibDem members of parliament — out of a party total of 57 — signed up to an amendment to the VAT rise which would have required an impact assessment on businesses, charities and households before any change to the tax was made.

But, in the event, MPs in the House of Commons voted for the plans by a margin of 346 to 270.

Lib Dem chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander defended the budget, saying the VAT hike was a “Labour inheritance tax”. Nice quip.