Chancellor George Osborne has surprised critics by doing a U-turn on tax credit cuts and vowing to protect police budgets in his Spending Review.

Millions of low paid families will not now see their benefits cut in April, although the relief for many will be temporary because tax credits will be phased out by 2018.

The new Universal Credit that will replace them is set to be less generous, critics say.

Mr Osborne also pushed ahead with £12bn cuts to the welfare budget - and £20bn in departmental cuts.