Chris Philp on LBC claiming that "there's respectable countries like Australia, Canada and New Zealand" who aren't members of the European Convention on Human Rights. Why would that be, Chris?

Australia have been good but I still believe this England team is at least their equal in terms of ability. Sadly they are not currently showing this. Big improvements are needed from England in the remainder of the series.

Imposing Ed Miliband as PM next year would be broadly the equivalent of Neil Kinnock being made the unelected PM in 1999. I respect Kinnock as an orator but how would that have been received by the British public? Not well. Ditto Ed Miliband

This was so much better

Guessing the FIFA Peace Prize never gets awarded again

This World Cup draw is quite something. Can't they just stick to the football?! #FIFAPeacePrize

The point surely is here that Bernard Manning was never aspiring to become the UK's Prime Minister

Government Ministers have consistently argued that elected Mayors are engines for economic growth. By postponing Mayoral elections to May 2028, these new Mayors will barely have their feet under the table before the next GE and any growth will come after this Parliament.

If true this is not a good look from the Government and makes one question how committed it truly is to Local Government reorganisation

Awful news. One of my childhood cricketing heroes. The best square cut I have ever seen. So grim that the Judge, Shane Warne and Graham Thorpe are no longer with us. All gone way too soon. RIP

Don't understand why David Lammy is guffawing on LBC as he's asked by @NickFerrariLBC about escaped prisoners.

Ridiculous that this has been allowed to go on for so long. I have huge respect for medical doctors but surely it's now time to settle especially in the run up to Christmas

Nearly 18 months in this still feels like a Government reacting to negative events around it rather than a Government with a strong vision for the country and a clear strategy of how it gets there. Objectively, it's a total contrast to the last time Labour came to power in 1997.

My take on the Budget. - big tax rises but no effort at reform - welfare spending raised by c£10bn since March - debt still rising. Just 52% chance of meeting target - U turns on tax & welfare indicate no strategy or sense of direction https://t.co/AZi2alR5w6

Hard to find anything in this Budget that will deliver any sort of tangible, positive change for most people. Which given it’s what Labour’s re-election hopes rest on, is curious to say the least.

Rob Rinder: Slashing jury trials is an attack on British values | Metro News

A bad day to be a mansion dwelling, electric car driving, milkshake drinking, online gambler with an ISA who cycles into work.

Over the next five years, the OBR is forecasting that welfare spending will rise by £73.2bn to £406.2bn.

The removal of the two child benefit cap creates a chasm between the Left and the Right over welfare spending. This is likely to be one of the main dividing lines at the next General Election. This was the opening salvo.

As with all Budgets the devil is in the detail but assuming nothing spectacular is discovered, I sense the only two things in this Budget which will be widely noted outside Westminster is the leaking which plays into the chaos narrative & the ditching of the two child welfare cap