James Frayne: The Government should reverse this raid on risk-takers

May and Hammond are right to prioritise the working class, but an attack on small traders and self-starters is only going to alienate them – and many more besides.

The media reaction to Brexit: the Mail turns on Hammond

The Telegraph and the Sun also have harsh words for the new taxes facing the self-employed… but the Express brushes it off in a sentence.

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.

Our Blurrt analysis shows how anger over Hammond’s NIC rise for some of the self-employed grew in the Budget’s aftermath

Mass analysis of Twitter reaction shows its reputation was sealed by mid-afternoon. The proportion of angry tweets reached half the total.

Anger, disgust, happiness and even love – Blurrt analysis of the live Twitter reaction to the Budget

Studying 43,639 Tweets posted during Hammond’s speech and Corbyn’s reply shows the challenge facing the Chancellor.

WATCH: “We are building the foundations of a stronger, fairer, more global Britain.” The Chancellor delivers his Budget.

“Today’s OBR report confirms the continued resilience of the economy.”

Hammond: “The difference in NICs is no longer justified by the difference in benefits entitlement.” His Budget Speech: full text

Tax rises for the self-employed and those who have set up their own companies. More money for the NHS and social care. And an overhaul of technical education.

WATCH: The Chancellor leaves Downing Street with the red box

He sets out to deliver his first and last Spring Budget.

Is Putin’s Russia an enemy or ally? Please take our monthly survey.

Plus: Is Hammond’s deficit reduction strategy right? Is Trump a good or bad thing? And should May call a snap election?

Dominic Raab: With courage, Hammond could save billions

The first piece in our mini-series on reducing the deficit explores ideas from addressing ‘grey welfare’ to closing Whitehall departments.

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.

The Treasury is losing influence – and the Chancellor is content for it to happen

Hammond is a rare beast – most holders of his office have done everything they can to extend their power.

Who needs the Autumn Statement?

Hammond wants no longer to treat it as a second Budget-style political opportunity. That may turn out to be better in principle than in practice.

Howard Flight: We simply cannot afford to carry on protecting spending on welfare, the NHS and schools

The Budget ducked the hard choices that need to be made.