Chancellor to announce huge spending cuts in spring statement

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce significant spending cuts, potentially the largest since the austerity era, in her upcoming spring statement on 26 March.
• These cuts could reach up to seven per cent for some government departments over the next four years, exceeding previous estimates, according to reports.
• Reeves has reportedly ruled out tax increases for now, but the decision comes after Labour implemented £5 billion in welfare cuts, a move that has drawn criticism.
• One Whitehall source told the Guardian that the cuts would hit “vital public services”, such as the police force and prisons. “I don’t know how much longer we can go on pretending this is not austerity,” they said.
• The unemployment rate remains at 4.4 per cent, prompting discussions about the effectiveness of current government policies in addressing employment challenges.

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UK politics live: Rachel Reeves ‘to announce biggest spending cuts since austerity’ in spring statement