Budget news: Philip Hammond's claim that 'austerity is coming to an end' faces fierce scrutiny

Interesting exchange from the Commons earlier - Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has refused to apologise for his comparison of the EU to the Soviet Union, despite calls from opposition MPs.

Shadow Europe minister Khalid Mahmood asked if he had apologised in person to Eastern European counterparts, who lived under Soviet occupation, for his remarks at the Tory conference.

The SNP's Stephen Gethins also asked Mr Hunt to apologise for the "crass" comparison after reading out responses from Latvian and Lithuan dignitaries.

But Mr Hunt did not say if he had offered any apology to representatives from Eastern European countries when they visited his official residence in Chevening ahead of a foreign affairs council in Luxembourg.

He said: "We had a very enjoyable time, including getting a bit lost in the maze.

"But, to answer his question directly, I stand by exactly what I said, which was that a club of three countries that was set up in part to stand against the Soviet Union and totalitarianism should not - in a way that's inconsistent with those values - seek to punish someone who wishes to leave."

SNP Europe spokesman Mr Gethins also attacked Mr Hunt for his refusal to apologise for "crass remarks" that had "deeply offended" those whose countries were occupied by the Soviets.

New analysis shows that splashing more cash on tax cuts than support for controversial welfare reforms means women will be hit harder than men by Philip Hammond's Budget.

Nearly all the losses from changes to tax and benefits announced since the Conservatives took power have been shouldered by women, House of Commons Library research found.

It found 56% of the £3.6bn boost in the chancellor's tax and welfare measures will go to men.

Over the last eight years, 87% of the losses have fallen on women, up 1 per cent compared with before the financial statement, according to the research.

Women are hit harder by welfare reforms while men are more likely to gain from tax allowances, according to Ms Cooper.

She said: "Each time the chancellor has the chance to narrow the gap he does the opposite.

"By choosing to put more into raising tax allowances including for the highest earners than into tackling the problems with Universal Credit, the chancellor has ignored the fact that low earners are still being hardest hit, and that means women are still losing out.

"Women are more likely to be hit by welfare cuts including Universal Credit whilst men are more likely to gain from the increased tax allowances.

"The chancellor's decision to cut taxes for those on £100,000 a year helps more men, when he could have done more to sort out the problems with Universal Credit and the welfare system for families in poverty instead.

"In the centenary year of the first women getting the vote, it is shocking that the Treasury still refuses to carry out its own gender audit of the impact of its policies."

In a briefing with journalists, John McDonnell has just stood by his support for Philip Hammond's tax cuts, saying Labour will not "take money out of people's pockets".

This morning, the Resolution Foundation said the policy would "overwhelmingly benefit the rich".

Pressed on his support for the policy in a post-Budget briefing with journalists, Mr McDonnell said: "We're not going to oppose it on the basis that it will put more money into pockets, but our position is very, very clear.

"We'll introduce our own tax proposals. We set them out in the general election... we'll be arguing in the debate itself that we want a fair taxation system but where the top five per cent pay that bit more."

“Prioritising potholes” over crime is an example of the government treating officers with contempt, says the Police Federation. 

Our Home Affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden has taken a look at the fallout from yesterday's Budget:

Teachers have also piled in to criticise Philip Hammond for being 'ignorant' over the reality of school cuts.

More from our Education Correspondent Eleanor Busby:

Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt has defended the UK government's response to Saudi-led airstrikes on civilians in Yemen.

Appearing in front of the Commons international development committee, he was asked about civilian casualties, including at least 20 people killed in an airstrike on a wedding party, 

He says the Saudi-led coalition had "admitted error" and added:

"I don't think there's ever been any suggestion that there was any pre-meditated murder or anything like that.

"It was an error in conflict. It was admitted. Reparations have been offered."

He called the bombing a "failure of targeting" and said "lessons should be learned".

"In conflict, mistakes are made," he added.

In case you missed it yesterday, John Rentoul has taken a sideways look at what Philip Hammond said in the Budget - and what he meant.

Alistair Burt dismisses MPs' suggestions that the UK selling arms to Saudi Arabia is perpetuating the conflict in Yemen.

He tells the Commons international development committee that such an argument relies on "a simplistic equation that our ending support for Saudi Arabia would end the conflict" and adds: "I just do not believe that is true. "

The Foreign Office minister suggests Saudi Arabia is "under threat itself" and, to laughter from some MPs on the committee, says the Saudis are "engaged in support of a legitimate government" in Yemen.

Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has hit back at the IFS claims about the Budget.

She said: “This Budget showed how the hard work of the British people is paying off, with our balanced approach providing a solid economic recovery which means austerity is coming to an end.

“We are providing more support for our vital public services like the NHS, cutting income tax for 32 million people and investing for the long-term to turbocharge growth and deliver higher living standards.

“But we are also clear that discipline remains, and that is the dividing line in British politics today: a Conservative Government delivering on people’s priorities and getting the debt down or the real gamble, the Jeremy Corbyn party that would tax and borrow one thousand billion pounds and take the country back to square one.”

John McDonnell has defended his decision to support Philip Hammond's tax cuts for higher earners amid a growing revolt from members of his own party.

It follows the Resolution Foundation's verdict, claiming the cut announced in Monday's Budget, will "overwhelmingly benefit the rich" and the top ten per cent of households.

More here: