Believe it or not but some Conservative MPs cheered the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as he arrived for the Budget.

For a moment they mistakenly thought that the veteran socialist had taken some Tory advice.

Last month David Cameron surprised the Islington MP (and many others watching) by telling him to put on a suit and do up his tie.

(The Prime Minister insisted that he was only passing on some tips from his own mother...) So, for a few seconds, Tory backbenchers did a double take as Mr Corbyn entered the Commons chamber.

He was certainly wearing a very natty red tie.

And, could it be, was that a suit?

On closer inspection, however, it appeared that he was wearing a navy jacket matched and a pair of black trousers.

But that did not stop a number of Tory MPs, however, who shouted “woo...” as Mr Corbyn sat down.

Also there was his predecessor as Labour leader, one Ed Miliband, sitting on the furthest back of of backbenches.

Missing, however, was the former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg.

He did not hear George Osborne tell MPs that the ex-pensions ministers – a Lib Dem – had accused him of planning to abolish the lump sum people receive when they claim their pension.

To a huge laugh from the chamber the Chancellor announced: “Instead, I have decided to keep the lump sum and abolish the Liberal Democrats.”

The current Lib Dem leader Tim Farron held his hands up at this, as if to say, "wait a minute, surely we can talk about this..."

As with last year's Autumn Statement, it was a very confident George Osborne who set out his plans.

He gave Tory MPs a huge smile just before he presented his Budget statement, an acknowledgement that he thought they would like what they were about to hear.

His voice also remained strong and steady throughout his lengthy speech.

During his early Budgets there had often been a moment in which the Chancellor's voiced cracked.

His Lib Dem joke was the high point in terms of MP reaction to this Budget, but it was probably the biggest laugh he has received in the six years in the post.

No bad thing when every major set piece event you do is seen as a interview for the top job.

Mr Osborne is hoping that very soon, and for the best possible reason, one of these Budgets will be his last.