Rebellious backbenchers, underfunding and previous pledges mean there are no easy options for the new chancellor
Jeremy Hunt has warned that decisions of “eye-watering difficulty”, including cuts to public spending, will be required to repair the damage to the government’s finances after the failed mini-budget.
After his screeching U-turn to scrap the unfunded tax promises made by his predecessor, Kwasi Kwarteng, expectations are rising that the chancellor will kickstart a renewed austerity drive as part of debt-cutting plans due to be announced on 31 October.
