CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond shed his strait-laced image and showed a more humorous side as he took to the despatch box to deliver his first Budget.
Here are some of the jokes he cracked, which had some MPs in stitches, during his speech.
On being known as “Spreadsheet Phil”
Mr Hammond: “I turn now, Mr Deputy Speaker, to the OBR forecast. This is the spreadsheet bit, but bear with me because I have a reputation to defend.”
On Britain’s troubled relationship with the EU
Mr Hammond: “Overall, public sector net borrowing as a percentage of GDP is predicted to fall from 3.8per cent last year to 2.6 per cent this year. And for those who care about such things, it means we are forecast to meet our 3 per cent EU stability and growth pact target this year for the first time in more than a decade. But I won’t hold my breath, Mr Deputy Speaker, for my congratulatory letter from Jean-Claude Juncker.”
On the “last” Labour government
Mr Hammond: “Mr Deputy Speaker, a strong economy needs a fair stable and competitive tax system, creating the growth that will underpin our future prosperity. My ambition is for the UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a business.
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“Under the last Labour government corporation tax was 28per cent – by the way they don’t call it the last Labour government for nothing.”
On being upstaged by Theresa May on International Women’s Day
Mr Hammond: “I am delighted to use the occasion of International Women’s Day to announce three additional measures.
“Well, not quite announce them, Mr Deputy Speaker, because my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister’s already announced two of them.”
Mrs May: “It’s International Women’s Day!”
On Jeremy Corbyn disappearing down a black hole
Mr Hammond: “A well-functioning market economy is the best way to deliver prosperity and security to working families and the litany of failed attempts at state control of industry by Labour leave no-one in any doubt about that. Except, apparently, the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite, who is now so far down a black hole that even Stephen Hawking has disowned him.”
On being doubted by the Opposition
After Mr Hammond pledged to invest an additional £216 million in existing schools over the next three years, a Labour MP shouted: “No you won’t!”
The grinning Chancellor gave a panto-style reply: “Oh yes we will.”
On the Labour Party leadership:
Mr Hammond: “£270 million to keep the UK at the forefront of disruptive technologies like biotech, robotic systems and driverless vehicles – a technology I believe the party opposite knows something about.”
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