Lots of tricks and few treats

PHIL Hammond had held this Budget early to avoid the Hammond House of Horror Halloween jokes.

But his budget was trick or treat just the same.

TRICK: “Britain’s jobs miracle is set to continue”. That miracle where families work three jobs and still don’t have enough money. TREAT: 2p off a pint TREAT: “Here’s a £400million bonus for schools, to help them to buy the little extras they need,” Hammond said. Like, um, teachers, teaching assistants, books – and toilet paper.

TRICK: Putting £1billion into Universal Credit when George Osborne took at least £3.4billion out.

TRICK: Talking about saving the planet for our children, while failing to introduce a plastic cup levy.

TRICK: “This budget is unashamedly for you,” the Chancellor said. It wasn’t.