Nor can the chancellor say when, or if, it ever will. This budget represents a missed opportunity for Mr Hammond to reset the narrative and build up much-needed political capital with his own side by signalling a new direction about where the government is going. On housing, seen as the key issue of intergenerational fairness, Mr Hammond signalled – in rhetoric – a charge forward; only – in detail – to retreat. Mr Hammond will no doubt be praised by his own side for the cut in stamp duty. Mr Hammond has plotted a path that will make Britain’s problems bigger and harder to fix.

Source: The Guardian November 22, 2017 19:41 UTC