Analysts say figures give chancellor slightly more leeway for tax cuts before general election
Jeremy Hunt has been provided with a boost after the latest set of figures for government borrowing showed the UK running its largest monthly budget surplus since modern records began more than 30 years ago.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that, despite the weakness of an economy stuck in recession, the state’s tax receipts in January were £16.7bn higher than spending.
