Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning to soften the blow of his cuts to universal credit by announcing changes to the benefits system in today’s Budget, which he is detailing now.
The chancellor is expected to change the so-called "taper rate" for claimants in work – a move which would let them keep more of their wages.
But the £20-a-week cut is still expected to go ahead, according to The Sun, and charities are warning that tweaking the system will not help the poorest families.
Elsewhere, campaigners have urged Mr Sunak to put the climate emergency at the heart of his Budget and end suspicions he is resisting the switch to net zero on cost grounds, with the Cop26 summit just days away.
He will claim the UK economy is entering a “a new age of optimism” as he sets out details on spending plans on the NHS, transport as well as an increase to the minimum wage and lifting the pay freeze on public sector workers.
