You could have been forgiven for thinking that a general election was coming.

George Osborne - against expectations - delivered some unexpected goodies in his Autumn Statement that induced some delirious cheering from the Conservative benches.

He dealt with the awkward tax credit issue - a U-turn - froze cuts to police budgets - another U-turn - and gave councils the option of increasing their council tax via a social care precept of up to 2% to raise more money for social care.

And he confirmed widely-trailed reports of money for solutions to deal with Operation Stack by announcing a £250m package - chiefly for a lorry park off the M20.

That was particularly cheering for Kent MPs who deserve credit for lobbying the Treasury relentlessly to find some cash for alternatives to turning the M20 into an unofficial car park.

It made for a statement that was supposed to be all about more years of austerity but was, in parts, remarkably upbeat.

Of course, the devil will be in the detail as it always is And although the money for Operation Stack is undeniably generous, there are bound to be wrangles over where a lorry park goes and the environmental ramifications.

But it does finally seem the government has got the fact the chaos and disruption caused when Operation Stack is in place has repercussions for the whole country, not just Kent.

There is of course an election looming that the Chancellor does have his eye on - the quest to become the next leader of the Conservative party.

It is some way away but I imagine his stock today may have risen among Kent MPs.