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Paddy Power are never ones to shy away from controversy, and prove that a cynical approach to marketing will ensure plenty of publicity. 

If you didn't see it, they decided to logo up a lorry with a big sign saying "Immigrants, jump in the back! (but only if you are good at sport)" and then drive it around Dover, let people take some pics and wait for the inevitable social media backlash and chatter knowing it would be picked up by the media.

They followed it up with a tongue in cheek blog post making light of the controversy and stoking the fires a bit more:

Look what Paddy Power has been saying to immigrants down in Dover

Probably not the kind of marketing most small businesses would consider, and I don't know if I could be bothered with the reputation management and damage limitation, but this style obviously works for PaddyPower.

I know it's probably completely un-PC in this modern world, and I'll burnt at the stake, but it did make me smile. It reminds me a bit of the some of the stunts Branson used to pull in the name of marketing.

So what do you think, clever Gorilla publicity, or a step too far?

Anyone done anything outlandish for PR purposes? Jumped off a building or streaked across a football pitch?

Supposedly they will be clamping down on big company corp tax, lets hope so. Keeping it low and lower than other Euro countries is a good strategy to keep foreign business in this country and create jobs.

It would be nice to see a low corp tax threshold for smaller businesses, maybe upto £250 or £350k to encourage growth.

Not convinced about the tax evasion lost revenue versus the cost of welfare. Last I heard Corporate tax evasion was around £4 billion, while according to the office for Budget Responsibility, the true cost of welfare to the country is a staggering £410 billion a year 

There was a big thing about benefit fraud versus tax evasion in recent months, which claims that tax evasion far outstrips benefit fraud by about 4 to 1, so got a lot of media coverage. But the actual welfare bill itself is a terrifying number.

Living wage is a really tough one, especially for anyone on a low income. With an employers hat on, I think it's a good thing, but also sympathise with small firms who have had margins squeezed, and a couple of quid soon adds up when it comes to salaries. Firms like hauliers that have really tight profit margins, and are getting hammered with fuel costs will lose out to European firms that will pay their drivers less.

Its a nightmare balancing act, get it wrong and people can't live, or businesses fold and people are unemployed. 

It seemed to be positive. Trying to absorb about the scrapping of the dividend tax credit versus the new £5k tax free div, and the new tax rates. One for the accountant.

Increase to £3k employer NI contributions tax break should be welcome by a lot of firms. I suppose it's a counter balance to the new living wage.

• Living wage to replace minimum wage and set at £7.20 next April, rising to £9 by 2020.
• Corporation tax cut to 18% by 2020.
• Fuel duties frozen for the remainder of this year
• New car tax bands with a standard charge of £140 - and new cars will not need MOTs for the first four years, rather than three

BBC Budget 2015

Interesting one about MOT's. Not sure if you can call it business related not sure if that's a good or bad idea. Obvious cost savings, but 4 years of a car or traders van being run in to the ground without any obligation to get it checked other than losing a warranty is a bit of a worry?

Any initial views?

ahh, but I feel cleansed and it's good for the soul

I suspect I might be swimming against the tide on this one 

I love the idea that the world used to be more family centric and everyone was more friendly, but I'm not convinced, I reckon it's just a classic the good old days.

I'm very lucky, I've still got my granny around who is refusing to go down without a fight, and love listening to her going on about the same old stories. Getting a new battery for the wireless from the bicycle shop, which lasted 48 hours, gas lighting, no central heating, ice on the inside of the windows, married life in digs, which was the whole family living in 1 room. No cars on the road because no one could afford one. 2 buses a week, other than the school one which arrived an hour after school closed, poor medical care, high mortality rate for kids.

Then rationing until the late 1940's, no decent luxury goods coming through until the late 50's, with the country still bankrupt in the 60's (something s don't change), fighting against the collapse of it's Empire, coming to terms with it's loss of power and prestige in the world. Then there's National Service, lack of sexual equality, equal pay, racial discrimination from ethnic groups who were invited to come here or gained UK passports as the Empire crumbled.

Maybe the 70's was the golden era, hotbed of socialism, union power, discontent, strikes, under investment in Nationalised Industries, low quality and poorly manufactured goods, quickly eclipsed by the Far East.

No wonder the 80's and 90's was seen as a beacon of hope by so many.

We have the benefit of amazing medical science that our parents can only wonder at, and our grandparents wouldn't believe. We have technology that you take for granted such as your smart phone. Attitudes to women and race have finally for the large part become a non issue, compared to 30, 40, 50 years ago.

So I don't buy the good old days argument, I'd sooner bring my kids up now rather than any other decade in our history.

But things have changed. Personally (and no doubt controversially) I blame it all on the welfare state and the EEC/EU.

IMHO over the last 30 years we've collectively become lazy, helpless and dependant on the state. No body needs to take responsibility anymore, because it's no ones fault, it the governments 

We've become soft as a nation, where's the discipline? Why aren't kids scared of coppers? Why can't coppers give you a clip round the ear? Why aren't teachers respected? Why are teenagers claiming benefit instead of picking potatoes or cleaning cars?

The freedom of movement policy has seen economic migrants, legally and illegally flood into the UK, with the welfare state abused even further, and our soft nature just standing there and not doing about it. 

I wish it was a simple case of shops not opening on Sunday to restore family values, but it's going to take a lot more than that, discipline in the home!

Weak parents need to step up. No more kids watching Peppa Pig eating their tea on the sofa. Get their arses sat at the table where they belong. No more sleeping in mummys bed, no more back-chat to adults, bring back basic respect and values. Then maybe that will follow them through and they will respect their elders when they get older.

We live in a world where the class system has been pretty much dismantled. Old money is still around, but small businesses are the new economy. The school tie system has gone and you can genuinely do anything you want. Technology and a more modern way of thinking has enabled this. With the right attitude there are no barriers to business or being successful, education, single parent, gender, race.

But does that mean family life has to be sacrificed? No more than any other non 9-5 plodder job, plus as the boss you don't have to work the whole weekend and can spend more time with the family 

I know all my neighbours, (although still have a pratt next door) but try and be sociable and neighbourly, it is nice feeling part of a community. The kids know right from wrong and are polite, and hopefully there are still plenty of us with a similar attitude out there to counter balance the hand out generation.

But the family big shop is normally on a Sunday morning because it's quiet, and hopefully those at Tescos are on double bubble and are there by choice.

MrB makes a good point, if no one shopped on a Sunday, it wouldn't be viable. But people vote with their feet, which is in my view is much better than being told what to do by the government.

So for me, RIP Sunday Trading... <and runs for cover>

I suspect this could be an emotive subject, Sunday Trading Laws.

It's anticipated that this Wednesdays budget will see the relaxation of Sunday Trading laws. Is it any real great surprise, and does it really matter?

Traditionally Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest, allowing the family to have a day together, go to church etc. The argument was then later claimed having businesses and shops closed on a Sunday protected workers from unscrupulous employers. 

Now a days there are plenty of businesses trading on a Sunday, with restrictions only on larger shops that must shut early, which doesn't seem to make any sense, especially with online business running 24/7. Plus with most supermarkets running shifts day and night throughout the week, is the sacred Sunday a throwback to a bygone age?

Or do you think we should preserve Sundays as they are? Maybe even stop all trading on a Sunday? 

Any thoughts?

So what's the verdict?

With Greek banks allegedly running out of cash in 24 hours, Greeks voting no to more austerity cuts, the French pushing for Greek debt relief to allow them to remain in the Euro, and Germany standing fast and offering no concessions.

Has to be the highest stakes poker game going 

Wonder what the next 24/48 hours will bring?

The power of positive thought, nice one Andy 

lol now that's the truth