The first Budget Speech to be televised live was the one delivered by Chancellor of the Exchequer John Major, on 20 March 1990. Television cameras had only been admitted to the House of Commons in November 1989 and the BBC was keen to offer extensive coverage. Major spoke for 84 minutes, but the Budget 90 Special programme - acknowledging its historic nature - offered comprehensive news, reactions and expert analysis for the best part of four hours.
Budget Special 90 was presented by David Dimbleby, with Peter Snow on hand to evaluate Major’s budget strategy. Limitations on the cameras in Parliament meant that only shots of the speaking MP or wide shots of the chamber were permitted, but graphics were added that highlighted the main features of the Budget as they were revealed. The Radio Times also published a checklist for viewers at home - “What the Budget means for you” - to fill in as they went along.
The presence of cameras in Parliament allowed the voting public to see directly what politicians had to say. Although today there are multiple ways – including social media - to hear the unfiltered words of one’s parliamentary representative, in 1990 it was an important step in opening government up to public scrutiny.
March anniversaries
BBC Producer Guidelines published
1 March 1989
Truly Madly Deeply
1 March 1992
Launch of BBC Four
2 March 2002
Housewives' Choice
4 March 1946
