Gordon Brown after Newton by William Blake Dave Brown Dip pen and Indian ink, watercolour on Bristol Board, 2000

Newton, 1795/circa 1805 William Blake © Tate London, 2003

Blake's Newton, obliviously immersed in his formulae, here becomes the Chancellor preoccupied with his Pre Budget Statement. However his spending plans were somewhat scuppered by calls for more money for flood defences, as many areas of the country were under water at the time.

First published in The Independent, 8/11/00

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