“I welcome the government’s change of heart, but it is no compensation to the those on the breadline who have already been fleeced. Given the mess of Universal Credit, this is likely to become the hotest hotline in Britain.

Vince Cable said:

“One in six of the population could not cope with even a modest rise in mortgage payments. Consumer credit is running at 10% a year. With the Bank of England predicted to increase interest rates, a recession could lead to repossessions and people defaulting on their debts. The danger is that this becomes a negative spiral.

Lorely Burt said:

“The whole system of business rates is not working and is not fair. The government has tried tinkering but this is no longer enough. We need to look at land tax valuations.

The delays to this Bill make Southern Rail look punctual.

Between June to August 2016 and June to August 2017, in real terms regular pay for employees in Great Britain fell by 0.4%.