...because of course the mess that is this Budget belongs to him, not to Mr. Darling.
And I'm not asking you to take my word for it. Just read the live reactions over at Political Betting . Posts on Cameron's response start at post # 183. The site is one of my favourites for polling analysis and cross-party comment. A sample of the posts on Cameron's reply, starting with Mike Smithson, respected poll analyst and owner of the website:
"This is a much better budget response from Cameron than we have seen in recent years." by Mike Smithson
"Good attack start from Cameron. Pointing out that NR blasts the golden rule." by David Roe
"This is good from Cameron. Keys into the national mood." by Matt
"Cameron showing how to deliver a speech. Maybe Darling needs to take notes." by David Roe
"He does look pretty commanding to me." by Andrew G
"The tory team must have worked ultra quickly on this response, impressive in ferreting out the hidden figures" by ukpaul"
"Ed Balls heckled. Cameron said something along the lines of “I know the Minister for Children etc. desperately wants to be Chancellor, another budget like this and he might get a chance”. And as I speak another one! “I know he’s Minister for children, but he doesn’t have to act like one” - by Andrew G
There's a lot more at PoliticalBetting, and it makes an instructive read.