Nick Hargrave: The Conservative split is coming. Indeed, it is already here. Unless…

Perhaps, against all the odds, we will find a way of muddling through and preserve our broad church for a time after the era of Brexit has passed.

Nicky Morgan: The only credible alternative plan is Norway Plus. And that may well be what Parliament ends up supporting.

But it could take the ruling out of all other options before we get there. And if MPs ends up reaching a consensus view, then the Government will have to adopt it.

David Simmonds: The case for more investment in early intervention

The long-term dividends for individuals, local services, employers, and the Exchequer can far outweigh initial costs.

John Bald: School inspection is not a “little extra”

There is no evidence of funding cuts reducing school standards. But Ofsted does need enough staff to thoroughly assess the performance of classroom teachers.

Howard Flight: The best part of a week on, we can see that last week’s Budget was a popular one

The Chancellor has been fortunate that the public finances have improved substantially at a particularly convenient time.

George Freeman: There was much to cheer in the Budget. But now we need an inspiring programme for growth.

At the moment, we are treading water and appear to be relying on popular support for Brexit, and the threat of Corbyn, to keep us in office.

Alex Morton: This week, Hammond’s Budget. Next year, the Spending Review. It must focus on gaining more growth.

The Treasury should not simply accept the growth figures given by the OBR, but seek to raise them.

What will the Budget mean for local government?

For councils – unlike others in the public sector – austerity has been real. It is ending. But planning powers are being diminished.

A Budget with a message for Conservative MPs. Nice little seat you have there. Pity if anything happened to it.

In sum, Hammond said: vote for May’s Deal – or the economy gets it. But there’s more than one way of dicing the next election result.

Andrew Gimson’s Budget sketch: Behind his jokey Christmas uncle act, Hammond defended sound money

The despondent faces of grown-up people on the Labour benches suggested they know his measures will be very hard to oppose.

“Under this Conservative Government austerity is coming to an end – but discipline will remain.” – Hammond’s Budget speech, full text

“Now we have reached a defining moment on this, long, hard journey. Opening a new chapter in our country’s economic history.”

WATCH: McDonnell – “As we grow the economy we’ll reverse austerity in full”

The Shadow Chancellor claims that Labour would not just to halt further spending restraint, but try to undo the work of the previous government.

WATCH: Greening says the Government doesn’t properly value investment in people

“Because of that I don’t think we get the right decisions out of [the Treasury], and it now needs to fundamentally reform.”

Stephen Purvis: Squeezing investors to fund the NHS would backfire on the Treasury

Targeted tax breaks on investment create jobs and pay dividends for the public purse. The long-term interests of our public services are not served by cutting them.

Hammond has one task only in next week’s Budget. To show that the Government is preparing for No Deal.

The Chancellor’s recent claims of a coming “Deal Dividend” sent the wrong message at the wrong time – and showed up a deep Treasury malaise.