Sam Fleming

Many governments have not come clean with voters about the growing fiscal strains on the welfare state

Chancellor has abandoned a planned income tax rise that would have kicked in quickly

Increase would be balanced out by national insurance cut, officials say, as Rachel Reeves prepares for Budget

Chancellor lays groundwork for further tax rises in speech weeks ahead of Budget

Chancellor examining wide range of measures in bid to fill fiscal hole of between £20bn and £30bn

UK chancellor predicted to plump for ‘least worst option’ of creating higher council tax bands in England

Washington to become more indebted than European nations known for fragile public finances for first time this century

Boost to economy comes ahead of expected tough Budget next month

Raising levies would go against party’s manifesto pledges

Figure prompts traders to increase bets on Bank of England interest rate cut this year and sparks gilt rally