MPs push George Osborne to give Autumn Statement wings

This year’s Autumn Statement isn’t going to be full of a great deal of Christmas cheer. But as it’ll take place just over five months before the General Election, Tory MPs are still pushing for small giveaways from the government to tempt voters to back their party. One such campaign comes from Andrew Bridgen, who has a track record of getting what he wants from the government by hook or by crook. He was a key figure in the rebellion which halted British intervention in Syria last year, and this year persuaded ministers to look at decriminalising non-payment of the TV licence fee. Now he wants the Treasury to abolish air passenger duty for children under 12.

Bridgen has persuaded a group of MPs from across parliament to support an early day motion calling for this Autumn Statement giveaway, which he thinks will help hardworking families reward themselves with a holiday.