‘It’s an admission that austerity was a choice’

If a no-deal Brexit isn’t a threat to extra spending on the NHS despite the obvious economic implications of leaving and a possible recession on the horizon, it’s an admission that austerity was a choice. Extra spending has always been possible, the Tories just decided to choose the great recession of our lives to engage in class war. And yet still the people affected most insist that the Tories could rule this country better than any alternative? illouvlo

‘All he can do is take a punt’

I don’t know how to comment on this budget. It feels like I’m sitting on a train which is about to either crash or ride into a golden summer of economic plenty, in which I will be walking around with pocketfuls of commemorative 50p coins.

Key points from budget 2018 – at a glance Read more

It must be the first time a Chancellor has presented budget when he has absolutely no idea what the UK’s economic situation will be in six months. All he can do is take a punt; it’s all we can all do really. qualitystreet

‘Time the Tories took responsibility for the outcome of their policies’

So Hammond is blaming Labour again, how many years have the Tories been in power, time the Tories took responsibility for the outcome of their policies.

Hammond must be living in fantasy land if he believes “If we get it right, there will be a double Brexit dividend’”, or as is more likely the case he has had to resort to telling porkies because the government is unwilling to be honest with the electorate. autocord

‘Partisan politics is the worst it’s ever been’

Partisan politics is the worst it’s ever been, probably due to the echo chamber nature of the internet, so it doesn’t help when a politician pushes the lie that Labour caused the global recession of 2008. UnderscoreC

‘A Brexit dividend would surely have to be a net benefit over remaining, not over total failure’

So basically, the “dividend” is that businesses will actually decide to invest the money that they were going to invest before Brexit, and Hammond won’t be shoring up the economy. In what way is that a dividend? An actual Brexit dividend would surely have to be a net benefit over remaining, not over total failure. Rhys Rhodes

‘Charm offensive in case there’s a snap election?’

There are actually more extra spending bits than I expected and they have more zeros on the end than I expected, but then my expectations were actually negative numbers. Still seems to add up to a couple of billion a year tops more spending though. What’s the game here, I find myself thinking? A charm offensive in case there’s a snap election? Promise stuff with no consequences as you can reign it back in depending on what Brexit does? richbrierley

‘You could almost forget the on-going and deepening political crisis’

Some great gags from Hammond today. You could almost forget the on-going and deepening political crisis this country is going through. At least someone feels optimistic about the future. Although a lot of the none-gags now coming across as wishful thinking if not downright lies. Maverick1

‘A “biggy” for me will be the death of any new PFI’

Well done Phil Hammond. Nothing disagreeable. A “biggy” for me will be the death of any new PFI. Good news for schools, defence and potholes. Good news on borrowing and debt. But finally, one of the Tory remain stalwarts is coming round to the acceptance of Brexit. He could have spent the last sixteen months spitting the dummy out like Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston. But I feel relaxed he’s onboard now. Why do I feel relaxed? It’s knowing that this government will steer Brexit through. I’d rather it be with the Labour Party, but what with their six tests, it’ll never happen. Harry Miller

‘The social care elements look like crisis management rather that forward thinking’

So it has gone from austerity is over for hard-working people (May) to the era of austerity is coming to an end for the strivers, the grafters and the carers (Hammond). The social care elements look like crisis management rather that forward thinking – the amounts won’t really help with an ageing population where people have complex interacting medical conditions. KBS1956

‘That’s less than a third of a salary of a teacher’

Budget 2018: Hammond announces £400m tax on tech giants – Politics live Read more

There are massive problems in schools and Hammond’s solution is to give primary schools £10,000 each. That’s less than a third of a salary of a teacher. It won’t solve the teacher shortages. Won’t pay the increases in costs. Parents need to know the Tories don’t value your children. steve sanderson

‘I’d love to see Hammond survive on the “national living wage” for a year’

Wow, just hearing Hammond talk about the success of the National living wage and stating the lowest paid have seen the highest proportional wage increase. The NLW is a joke and that along with job uncertainty and zero hours/gig economy that sees people effectively earn less than the minimum wage is not enough for real people to survive. I’d love to see Hammond survive on NLW for a year and see how he gets on. Arthur

‘Until Brexit is formalised, this budget is basically meaningless’

Even if he was not lying, until Brexit is formalised this budget is basically meaningless, despite what he says about it being Brexit-proof. Interesting that Hammond is thanking the people for all their hard work, as if they somehow chose to exist through years of ideologically driven faux austerity. And of course some people did not survive the process! Scattitude