Chancellor’s Budget Game: Can You Beat the Real Deal?

The Guardian’s interactive budget game lets anyone pretend to be the chancellor, but the real test arrives on 28 October when John Healey must balance the books for real.

In the game you can raise money, cut spending, or do a bit of both, but the real chancellor will have to make those choices in front of a crowded House of Commons.

The real challenge, announced for 28 October, is to strike a balance that satisfies both MPs and the bond market – no free lunch.

Gamers might be tempted to set tax rates to zero and spend freely, but in the real world that would be a very different story for the Bank of England and the markets.

Even if you manage to keep the simulated MPs smiling, you’ll find that the bond market has its own sense of humour and will react to every headline.

The takeaway? Master the game, but remember that the real budget is a lot less forgiving and a lot more likely to involve actual paperwork.