James Cartlidge: The devastating truth at the heart of the NICs row. We’re palming difficult decisions off on the next generation.

We may be rowing back to defend one promise. But another more fundamental promise to the future is actually at stake.

End the calls for radical tax cuts or a social justice crusade. Hammond is hemmed in.

And May’s reputation for straightforwardness risks damage from the Budget’s proposals for NICs.

David Gauke: This is a Budget for resilience, skills and fairness – and our changes to NICs are fair

Self-employed people earning less than £15,900 a year will still see a reduction in their NICs bill, and also benefit from the increased income tax personal allowance.

Think tanks’ verdict: A generally grudging welcome to a dull budget for turbulent times.

Bright Blue, the Institute of Economic Affairs, the Resolution Foundation and others give their views.

Alex Morton: Beware Triumphalism

Only a constitutional referendum lock, safeguarded by the Queen, can protect us from the left-wing coalition that could take power in 2020.

Ryan Shorthouse: Balancing the budget. Make private schools pay VAT. End ring-fencing. Charge for missed GP appointments.

The second piece in our pre-Budget series on how to eliminate the structural deficit.

Conservative MPs are not up for the challenge of reducing public spending growth

Hammond was right to postpone the date by which he aims to achieve a balanced budget. But whether or not Tory MPs really have the appetite for one is doubtful.

Alex Morton: Here’s a radical but workable plan for the Budget. Trade off simplified tax reliefs for lower marginal rates.

He could commit to some tangible metrics – i.e: reducing the tax code in length by 25 per cent by 2019, or pledging to abolish three taxes in each budget.

The real challenge isn’t sorting business rates. It’s ending that stubborn structural deficit.

The harsh truth is that, nearly seven years into Conservative-led Government, we are still living beyond our means.

Ryan Bourne: The Tories are getting it wrong on childcare

OECD analysis indicates that the cost of childcare as a percentage of income for a two-earner family is now the highest in the developed world.

James Frayne: First, they encourage us to switch to diesel. And now they want to charge us for it. What planet are these politicians on?

You can’t encourage people to take what are described as virtuous acts, only to punish them later financially.

Phil Taylor: Why we mustn’t have a National Care Service

It would simply replicate all the worst faults of the NHS and create a new set of problems.

Patel is taking flak for the Coalition’s aid ringfence

Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t reduce her department’s budget without a change in the law.

WATCH: Ici Londres – The three key elements to making a success of Brexit, presented by Daniel Hannan

We obsess about the views of EU member states, but must also consider domestic reform and global relations.

John O’Connell: Social care needs more money – but higher Council Tax is not the right way to deliver it

The local government system is not fit for purpose. Simply demanding more cash from overburdened taxpayers is no solution.