What’s in Philip Hammond’s Budget box?

Philip Hammond doesn’t do box office. Unlike his predecessor George Osborne, he doesn’t do burgers either, with his austere pre-budget picture showing the Chancellor looking characteristically gloomy as, we’re told, he prepares Britain to be ‘match fit’ for the future. So what do we know about Hammond’s first – and last – spring Budget?

For those who have accused Hammond of being too downbeat, there’ll be some glimmers of hope. It’s expected that the Chancellor’s ‘upbeat assessment’ of Britain’s economic outlook which he will deliver at the despatch box will mean the country’s growth forecast will be revised upwards – giving the Chancellor an extra £12bn to play with over the coming year. Don’t be fooled if you think Hammond will use that news to splash the cash: this will be a Budget with no rabbits out the hat. Instead, we’ll see a few relatively piecemeal changes and a number of tax rises to pay for them.