What the papers say: Why 'Spreadsheet Phil' is the Chancellor Brexit Britain needs

You don’t earn a nickname like ‘Spreadsheet Phil’ for being a showman. But is Philip Hammond’s powder-dry demeanour and unwavering focus on the numbers actually his strong point? Yes, says the Sun, which suggests the chancellor’s cautious approach is exactly what Britain needs right now. The paper says that whereas Hammond’s predecessors would use their Budget announcements to reach for ‘popularity-boosting giveaways’, not so the current incumbent at No.11 who takes a more sensible approach in saying ‘now is not the time for a spending spree’. ‘We couldn’t agree more,’ says the Sun, which warns of ‘greater challenges’ ahead. There may be ‘Brexit storms’ approaching, the paper points out before arguing that it’s right not to spend money while ‘the Treasury is still borrowing £1.25billion a week to service Labour’s legacy of debt’. Hammond’s ‘smart, careful’ budget shows he is the chancellor Britain needs, the paper concludes.