Closing summary
That’s it for our coverage of the autumn statement today. Here is a roundup of our coverage of the day’s events
Jeremy Hunt’s autumn statement tax cuts fuel talk of spring election
Political analysis Chancellor’s tax cut opens door to early election – and sets a trap for Labour | Rowena Mason
Business analysis A ‘live now, pay later’ autumn statement – and yet election year still looks bleak | Larry Elliott
Thousands on disability benefits to lose extra £5,000 a year in autumn statement
Sketch Jeremy Hunt delivers a budget designed to destroy a future chancellor | John Crace
The head of a childcare company backed by the prime minister’s wife has attacked the government following the autumn statement, accusing ministers of letting nurseries go bust, writes Kiran Stacey and Alexandra Topping.
Rachel Carrell, chief executive of Koru Kids, criticised a failure to allocate extra money for the childcare sector despite many providers saying that they could go out of business under reforms brought in earlier this year.
Jeremy Hunt announced at the budget in March that he would allow more parents to benefit from 30 free hours of childcare, extending the offer to children aged nine months and over. The chancellor allocated £4bn to pay for the expanded offer, but many providers have said this will not be enough to prevent them going bankrupt.
