Better than expected figures could give Jeremy Hunt wriggle room to cut taxes or increase spending
The UK government borrowed about £13bn less than expected last year, official figures show, despite the budget deficit reaching the fourth-highest level on records dating back to 1946.
The Office for National Statistics said the gap between the state’s revenues and its spending was estimated at £139.2bn in the 12 months to March, an increase of more than £18bn from a year earlier.