The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement becomes more political each year. Last week was no exception.

As the Chancellor was finally able to deliver some positive news for, largely, the first time in three years, it was no surprise he made Labour squirm as best he could.

The riposte by Ed Balls certainly added to the ‘spectacle’ of Parliamentary events like these, though not in an edifying way – the scene was reminiscent of The Good Old Days as staged by Barnum & Bailey.

Balls had to shout to make himself heard, and at one point it looked like he was going to explode. The day belonged to George Osborne.

The most blatant change in recent years is the increasing number of measures that are leaked in advance.

One measure to cheer is the £1,000 off business rates for high street firms, although the commitment to galvanise affordable house building is something that we applaud too. Measures to support housing have a clearly beneficial impact on economic growth – from construction, retail, DIY, legal and financial and job creation.

We can now expect a more bullish government in terms of political posturing; but they’re not off scot-free as far as business is concerned just yet.

Labour has had some of its ‘cost of living’ criticisms smothered through last week’s measures like fuel duty freeze, train fare rises pegged and free school meals for under-sevens, but the Government could still have done more to boost economic growth, including a major overhaul of the business rates system.