The Times reports that the tax free allowance , external will be increased for low-income pensioners in Wednesday's Budget. It says the chancellor has also decided not to to reduce the tax-free pension lump sum - and quotes the former minister Steve Webb as saying this looks like a "decidedly pensioner-friendly" Budget. The i paper says John Healey will announce , external long-term borrowing to fund defence on Wednesday, but defer the commitment to increase the expenditure to 3% of GDP to next year's spending review.

"This budget is Andy Burnham's first real test" writes Sharon Graham, the union Unite's general secretary, in the Daily Mirror. , external She says "hope will soon evaporate unless there is real change that workers and communities feel".

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph says John Healey is at odds , external with the energy secretary over drilling at the Rosebank North Sea oil field. According to the paper, Healey wants the plans to go ahead, but Miatta Fahnbulleh is opposed.…