Tax and spending watchdog says pay rises would not cause inflation
Jeremy Hunt could offer striking public sector workers a bigger pay rise before his budget next month by cancelling plans for a fuel duty freeze costing £6bn, according to a leading tax and spending watchdog.
With waves of fresh strike action planned across the public sector next month, the director of Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), Paul Johnson, said the chancellor faced a “straight choice” between subsidising car driving and helping public sector workers cope with the cost of living crisis.