HAMM IN RIGHT TAX JAM

A fuel duty freeze is good for drivers, but makes a tax rise for drinkers more likely.

If you’re foolish enough to drink and drive I guess this kind of evens out.

Philip Hammond must get the £20billion promised to the NHS from somewhere and 7p on a bottle of still wine, 9p on sparkling and 2p on beer is now fave for his October 29 Budget.

The Chancellor was furious with Theresa May for limiting his options by taking petrol and diesel hikes off the table.

That move alone has lost him a mighty £800million in tax income. He’s also looking at cutting higher rate pensions tax relief, freezing income tax thresholds and slashing the level small firms pay VAT at from £85,000 to £43,000.

In addition he’ll need another £1billion now the PM has lifted the local authority borrowing cap for new homes.

So he might make the top tax rate bite at £125,000 instead of £150,000 a year.

Spreadsheet Phil’s fast finding his inner Jeremy Corbyn. Looking for Brexit enlightenment? Why not hire a chap with “unique expertise, comprehensive knowledge and insight across the whole Brexit process”? This shrinking violet also boasts on LinkedIn of giving “top level strategic advice on policy development” to ministers, No10 and Whitehall departments.

Wow! Who is this superman? Step forward Stewart Jackson, an ex Tory MP who was chief of staff to David Davis as Brexit Secretary.