Defying Brexit doomsayers, the deficit came in at £4.3billion in October - below the £6billion expected. The figures emerged on the eve of Philip Hammond's Autumn Statement.

Philip Hammond announced a further freeze until April 2018, which will keep fuel duty at 57.95p per litre, the level it has been at four more than five years.

John McDonnell insisted today that Labour MPs were listening to his response to the Autumn Statement yesterday despite most of them being seen busy on their mobile phones.

Stoke City are finalising the transfer of Wigan Athletic's Nick Powell and are interested in Everton's versatile 24-year old defender Matthew Pennington.

The Ecuadorian outfit confirmed the 32-year-old's arrival on Friday afternoon by posting a video of Valencia getting used to his new surroundings.

The 26-year-old is due to have a medical ahead of signing a three year contract with the Championship side.

Crystal Palace tweeted a cringeworthy video to announce the £8million signing of James McCarthy from Everton. The clip shows James McArthur outside an internet cafe.

Hearts have secured the signing of Manchester United keeper Joel Pereira on a season-long loan deal.It will be the 23-year-old's fifth temporary spell away from old Trafford.

Takumi Minamino joins Liverpool as the Reds' first Japanese player and the ninth to have played in the Premier League. Here, Sportsmail takes a look back at how the first eight got on...

A bumper set of FA Cup fixtures continues on Saturday evening with five 5.31pm kick-offs taking place. Follow all the action across the five matches HERE via Sportsmail's SAM MCEVOY.

Cardiff City are expected to make an improved bid for Wigan Athletic striker Kieffer Moore. An offer of £2.3million was rejected last week but Moore was left out of Wigan's squad against Bristol City.

The 20-year old has been recalled from a loan spell at Morecambe and was wanted by Championship strugglers Wigan Athletic before the ambitious Salford City swooped in.

The 32-year-old has been training with Salford this season after being released by Wigan Athletic last year. The midfielder was once viewed as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes at United.

Chelsea Perkins, 31, booked a family holiday with her partner, Peter, 26 and 10 month old son, Theo, to Menorca with Tui, paying just under £2,500 for the three of them.

Research by The Mail on Sunday found that Airparks Drop and Go at Birmingham is a 14-minute drive from the airport, with buses only coming every 25 minutes.

BA has a number of bonus partner offers which allow travellers to bag more Avios points without spending more than you usually would when sorting out your holiday.

Andrew Wylde and his wife Danielle, of Wallasey, Merseyside booked a one week holiday to Atlantica Holiday Village Kos with their six children in June 2019, hoping for a relaxing break.

The 71 year-old was told by the travel insurance firm that he would not be able to claim the money back as he had not informed it straight away of pending eye surgery.

Kate Callaghan from New Zealand was diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks ago. The mum, 35, wasn't tested when she first visited doctors because they thought she was 'too healthy'.

Andrew Lane, 65, from Essex contracted necrotising fasciitis during surgery in 2013, but speaking to Take a Break magazine, his wife insists their relationship has not suffered.

Nikita Pearl played Gloria in the film - also starring Lupita Nyong'o - about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum. She died at hospital in Naalya, Kampala, last night, Ugandan media reports.

Lupita wrote: 'In her real life she had the enormous challenge of battling brain cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and community as they come to terms with having to say goodbye so soon.'

Amanda Anisimova, 18, lost her first round match against world number 73 Zarina Diyas, but was asked about her late father during a post-game press conference.

The 24-year-old Sydneysider lashed out in his second round clash with Italian number 12 seed Fabio Fognini.

Golden State Warriors point and shooting guard D'Angelo Russell shared an image  on Twitter on Wednesday showing him watch Kyrgios play, adding the caption: 'Tuned in'.

Tennis star John Millman has made a cheeky request to Australian Open officials to 'throw a spanner in the works' for his opponent Roger Federer.

Jordan Thompson opened up on his life off the court in an interview in which he revealed he has a habit of always checking the NRL mobile app, hated school, and how his mum still does his washing.

The mud-filled rain fell on Melbourne on Wednesday evening after a dust storm was pushed over the city. Commentators claimed it was the first time a dust storm had caused a delay in play.

Three-time Wimbledon winner McEnroe is so impressed from what he has seen from Federer that he believes he could be playing better than in the early 2000s when he had a iron grip on tennis.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Australia's view of Nick Kyrgios continues to be transformed by his deeds on and off the court after another entertaining match involving the world No 26.

Hot headed tennis ace Nick Kyrgios has apologised for launching an 'unacceptable' tirade during his nail-biting second-round match at the Australian Open.

She's expecting her first child with Today show host Karl Stefanovic in April.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: There was heartbreak on Friday as Caroline Wozniacki ended her career in defeat, while Serena Williams missed out on a chance to win her 24th Grand Slam.

While she would have been hoping to bow out in a blaze of glory, Wozniacki insisted she was proud of her career and had no regrets about the way it had panned out.

The world number one was up against Argentina's Federico Delbonis at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday when he hit 13-year-old Anita in the face during the third set.

Anita copped the blow to her face in the third set as the Spanish tennis star took on Argentina's Federico Delbonis at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.

Australian tennis star John Millman has been accused of using a dodgy 'trick'during his nail-biting five-set defeat to Roger Federer.

The Neighbours star admitted to lying to police to protect her drug-using ex-boyfriend Matt Arnautovic.

The altercation occurred just before 7pm on Saturday at Melbourne Arena ahead of Kyrgios's third round against Russian Karen Khachanov.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Long before he set up what should be a pulsating fourth-round against Rafael Nadal, Nick Kyrgios had already commenced hostilities.

The Australian tennis bad boy is through to the fourth round after winning a five-set thriller against 16th seed Russian Karen Khachanov.

The bitter rivalry between the two tennis heavyweights began last February at the Mexico Open with a petty on-court dispute and escalated from there, with more fireworks at Wimbeldon.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: One former tennis prodigy from Florida defeated a present one when fourteenth seed Sofia Kenin brought the run of Coco Gauff to an end.

The Serbian world number two opened up about his hopes for son Stefan, 5 and daughter Tara, 2 moments after his fourth round straight sets win over Argentinian Diego Schwartzman on Sunday.

The Swiss maestro cast aside Marton Fucsovics at Melbourne Park on Sunday, before telling the crowd they still had time to celebrate the national day as the clock struck 11.30pm.

Ash Barty has served a brilliant response after the debate over changing date of Australia Day threatened to overshadow her stunning fourth round win at her home grand slam.

Regardless of what happens in his fourth-round match against Rafael Nadal, there is a lot Nick Kyrgios can take away from this month that will serve him well for the rest of the season.

Austrian Dominic Thiem, 26, was asked about the bizarre whispers after his straight sets win over Frenchman Gael Monfils at the Australian Open on Monday.

Australian legend Court - a devout Christian - has caused controversy for saying she doesn't believe gay people should be allowed to marry because the Bible does not condone it.

The Australian gave it his all in a spirited performance but went down 6-3 3-6 7-6 7-6 in four sets against the Spaniard in an emotion-charged showdown.