Spending gap to Phil

TENS of millions of Britons deserve to see the colour of Philip Hammond’s money after eight grim years of Tory austerity.

The hollow boasts we’ll hear today from the Chancellor as he delivers his Budget will trigger scornful laughter from victims of this Government’s failed economics.

Actions speak much louder than scripted words and the big picture remains grim.

A few positive initiatives are no substitute for the end of an austerity regime squeezing the lifeblood out of families and the economy as it wrecks our precious public services.

The years of Torynomics since 2010, when the Conservatives replaced Labour, have hurt those who could least bear the pain.

Brexit is a difficult backdrop to today’s Budget but it’s no excuse for continuing down a doomed path. We don’t hold out much hope Mr Hammond will really change direction.