The climbdown means George Osborne (pictured) will breach his self-imposed welfare cap for the next three years, meaning a minister must explain and apologise to Parliament.

Chancellor George Osborne landed buy-to-let and second homes a huge shock by announcing a stamp duty surcharge on property purchases from April.

He has repeatedly slashed domestic spending, but the Chancellor remains committed to funnelling 0.7 per cent of Britain's GDP into an array of dubious overseas aid projects.

In his Autumn Statement and Spending Review, Mr Osborne claimed he is tackling the 'crisis in home ownership' head-on with the 'biggest housebuilding programme since the 1970s.'

Theresa May has told Chancellor Philip Hammond to make middle and low-income families in the UK a priority in next week’s Autumn Statement.

The National Audit Office (NAO) warns today that the health service’s ‘endemic’ financial problems have left it so short of cash that it is having to raid building projects to pay for day-to-day services.

Things appear to be changing for the better for the economy - and just in the nick of the time for the Chancellor as he prepares to give his first major report later today.

Insurers have slammed the rise which has pushed the tax up to almost double what it was in 2015 and they predict it will lead to an increase in the number of uninsured drivers on the road.

The analysis, reaction and charts from the experts and our own journalists from throughout the day.

As John McDonnell stood up for his big moment to respond to the Chancellor's spending plans, Labour's MPs were much more interested in their mobile phones than his rambling speech.

Delivering his first fiscal package since the historic EU referendum vote, the Chancellor insisted the government understands the fury of those who have not shared in the wealth generated by the economy.

MPs have voiced deep scepticism after the Office for Budget Responsibility delivered a series of dire forecasts about the impact of Brexit.

The announcement does mean there will be two full Budgets next year, in the spring and the autumn, as the new schedule rolls out.

George Osborne, to his credit, was sitting on the backbenches yesterday to listen to his successor Philip Hammond deliver his first financial statement as Chancellor, says PETER OBORNE.

As Hammond speeches go, the Autumn Statement was short and reasonably un-glum. He kept it to 45 minutes. By his own morose standards he was almost skittishly optimistic in places.

Hammond has backed recent HMRC proposals for a crackdown on using the loophole for smartphone and gym contracts, buying cars and TVs, or private medical insurance.

John McDonnell insisted today that Labour MPs were listening to his response to the Autumn Statement yesterday despite most of them being seen busy on their mobile phones.

The Chancellor said the government was treating the estimates from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) as a 'signal' of what might happen.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s first – and last – Autumn Statement was very much focused on measures to keep the economy out of recession.

Former health secretary Stephen Dorrell, who is now chairman of the NHS Confederation, said Philip Hammond (shown) had made a ‘mistake’ by failing to find extra funds in last week’s autumn statement.

Currently, employees do not have to pay income tax or national insurance if their redundancy pay is under £30,000.

IAN WHITTELL AT THE DW STADIUM: The striker hit his fourth goal in as many games, levelling after home keeper Jamie Jones had been penalised for unnecessarily picking up a back pass.

Chelsea Perkins, 31, booked a family holiday with her partner, Peter, 26 and 10 month old son, Theo, to Menorca with Tui, paying just under £2,500 for the three of them.

The Civil Aviation Authority is readying contingencies, which could include having to repatriate thousands of customers if the travel agent goes bust during their holidays.

Exotic locations such as Buenos Aires, Enfidha and Doha all make the top ten list of faraway places that have seen the biggest drop in costs, according to new research from Skyscanner.

With coronavirus continuing to spread, people are increasingly reluctant to travel, meaning airlines are cancelling dozens of flights and cruise companies are frantically rescheduling.

Elizabeth Wurtzel, the author of the acclaimed memoir Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America, has died at the age of 52 following a long battle with breast cancer.

Amanda Anisimova, 18, lost her first round match against world number 73 Zarina Diyas, but was asked about her late father during a post-game press conference.

Serena Williams is arguably the most stylish tennis player of all time.

The 24-year-old Sydneysider lashed out in his second round clash with Italian number 12 seed Fabio Fognini.

Up to 20 Greek supporters were ejected from Melbourne Park for disruptive behaviour following Greece's Maria Sakkari's match against Japanese player Nao Hibino on Court 8.

Golden State Warriors point and shooting guard D'Angelo Russell shared an image  on Twitter on Wednesday showing him watch Kyrgios play, adding the caption: 'Tuned in'.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: In nine singles matches, and at the tender age of 15, Gauff can claim the unusual distinction of never having been off one of the show courts at a Grand Slam.

Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich watched Serena Williams win her second round match against Tamara Zidansek at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine (née Yarbrough) are expecting their first child together in the coming months.

Tennis star John Millman has made a cheeky request to Australian Open officials to 'throw a spanner in the works' for his opponent Roger Federer.

It appears that Erin Molan may be subconsciously taking fashion tips from the tennis stars playing at the Australian Open

The mud-filled rain fell on Melbourne on Wednesday evening after a dust storm was pushed over the city. Commentators claimed it was the first time a dust storm had caused a delay in play.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: The Australian open served up more disappointment for British tennis players as Heather Watson became the latest player to be dumped out

The Australian 23rd seed dominated the first two sets of his encounter with Frenchman Gilles Simon, with a jovial Kyrgios putting on a show for the Melbourne Arena crowd.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Australia's view of Nick Kyrgios continues to be transformed by his deeds on and off the court after another entertaining match involving the world No 26.

The world number one had a scary moment during his round two victory over Argentina's Federico Delbonis in the second round.

Hot headed tennis ace Nick Kyrgios has apologised for launching an 'unacceptable' tirade during his nail-biting second-round match at the Australian Open.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Williams looks increasingly unlikely to win that elusive 24th Major as the years tick by, and the changing of the guard in women's tennis becomes more apparent.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: There was heartbreak on Friday as Caroline Wozniacki ended her career in defeat, while Serena Williams missed out on a chance to win her 24th Grand Slam.

Karl Stefanovic joked that he's been blacklisted from the Australian Open after pulling a stunt with a go-kart during a segment for Today on Friday.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Harriet Dart and Heather Watson both exited on Thursday to complete a second round British wipeout in the Australian Open singles draw

While she would have been hoping to bow out in a blaze of glory, Wozniacki insisted she was proud of her career and had no regrets about the way it had panned out.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Coco Gauff scored a sensational win over defending champion Osaka at the Australian Open on a day that felt like there was an abrupt changing of the guard.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: A remarkable day at the Australian Open ended with Roger Federer dramatically avoiding the same fate as some of the women's top names.