Spring statement: Hammond promises more spending if no-deal Brexit avoided – live

Chancellor reveals growth and borrowing forecasts, plus money for period poverty, knife crime prevention, and affordable housingGrowth for 2019 down, but Brexit war chest swellHammond: No-deal uncertainty has to stopSpring statement 2019: the chancellor’s key points at a glanceConsumers to get more power over tech giantsPolitics Live: MPs to vote on no-deal today 1.47pm GMT Some reaction from Hammond’s side of the House:Fantastic news on the full protection of Ascension Island, a biodiversity jewel.Delighted @PhilipHammondUK listened to our campaign. As custodians of one of the largest marine estates in the world, we have a duty to defend it against overfishing and abuse. A big step forward.Delighted to see @PhilipHammondUK and @hmtreasury make investment in science and research such a big part of the #springstatement- a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to science, as we work to meeting our target of 2.4% of GDP spent on R&D by 2027This is just surreal. Listening to Phillip Hammond talking about the Tories being the party of business when British companies have no idea what sort of trading arrangements or tariffs they will be facing with the world’s largest single market in a fortnight. Reckless & shameful.Extra money is welcome to bear down on knife crime but the Tories have created this crisis in policing. Our overstretched officers are already at breaking point, owed thousands of rest days and leave.It won’t paper over the deep cracks in the system.#SpringStatementPeriod poverty? Ok.I would rather see an end to poverty, period. #childpoverty https://t.co/kUaCNILueiIs the Chancellor deluded or just uncaring? Education funding is in crisis, yet in line with ‘little extras’ snub, he’s failed to provide long-term funding schools need & give our young people the education they deserve. #SchoolCuts must urgently be reversed. #SpringStatement 1.34pm GMT As we suspected, there wasn’t much new in that statement.The economic picture for 2019 has darkened, with growth forecast to only be 1.2%, from 1.6% before. Brexit uncertainty, and the slowdown in the global economy, are both probably to blame.“Leaving with no deal would mean significant disruption in the short and medium term and a smaller, less prosperous economy in the long term, than if we leave with a deal.Higher unemployment, lower wages, higher prices in the shops. That is not what the British people voted for in June 2016.”Philip Hammond announces a plan to launch a “comprehensive global review of the link between biodiversity and economic growth” as well as an extra 445,000 square km of marine protected area around Ascension Island.Follow the #SpringStatement here: https://t.co/F9tUL9mX1b pic.twitter.com/13Apf82ulF Continue reading…
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