In the very first episode of ‘The Thick of It', the newly appointed Minister for Social Affairs is charged with coming up with an extremely popular policy that costs nothing.

It's a dilemma I'm reminded of each time we come to the Autumn Statement, when Government needs to announce policies that are popular, support economic growth and are at least cost neutral. So what will be the focus this year?

This is the last Autumn Statement before manifesto announcements start in earnest at party conferences next year. With nearly nine months of data since the Budget in March, much stronger economic growth is likely to be a big part of the story. I'd expect some announcements on tax and youth unemployment to help tackle concerns about cost of living, as well as responses to the current debate on energy prices and changes to green levies.

From a place perspective, I'd expect – and welcome - some announcements about capital investment, and a discussion of what the Government will be doing to tackle the north / south divide.

The recent YouGov work arguing that many northerners will not vote Conservative and see the party as too ‘southern' is likely to have focused minds even further on how to change this.