The Spring Statement was not meant to be a March 'mini-Budget', despite what many headlines in the days before suggested. Mr Sunak believes in the once-a-year approach to major tax and spending changes, unlike some of his predecessors. However, in 2022, as in 2020 and 2021, events conspired to put paid to that single Budget aspiration. Instead, on the day the inflation rate was announced as having reached 6.2%, the Chancellor announced a range of tax cuts aimed at countering the cost of living crisis.

At the end of his speech, in an unusual pre-Budget unveiling of a specific tax move, the Chancellor announced that the basic rate of income tax will be cut from 20% to 19% from April 2024 for taxpayers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

On a personal note,  sadly, my mother lost her battle with old age and dementia last Thursday 17th March at the grand old age of 97.   It is a comfort to know she is now at peace and it was good to have such great support from the amazing people in her care home not only in the last few months when it was particularly difficult for her,  but over the 3 years she lived there.