Current and future chancellor face tough choices after IMF report on UK economy

Body says £30bn fiscal gap cannot be filled by higher growth or extra borrowing. So how will No 11 ease pressure on public finances?

Jeremy Hunt looks to cut NICs again despite IMF warning of £30bn fiscal hole

World body’s latest health check of UK economy says ‘unpopular revenue-raising measures’ may be needed

Protectionism in the form of tariffs is justified but the focus will be on whether Beijing retaliates

Chancellor also criticised for ‘dodgy dossier’ on Labour plans as he aims to make low tax a key election issue

Chancellor seems to cherrypick data as he tries to outline how the Tories have got the country back on its feet

Editorial: The opposition leader knows that he is being measured for the highest office in the land

Party leader says six election pledges revealed at launch event will take two terms of government to materialise

Commitments range from cutting NHS waiting times to delivering economic stability – and are united by a lack of detail

Ministers ramp up anti-welfare rhetoric a day after data showed increase in UK unemployment

Thinktank says extra funding eaten up by higher inflation despite greater demand with service in poor state of repair

Putting endless growth above our wellbeing and the environment is no longer viable

After Natalie Elphicke’s defection and tension over Gaza stance, some party insiders believe limits are being reached

GDP rose by 0.6% in first quarter of 2024 but forecasters expect economy to grow slowly this year

While the government will seize on any crumbs of comfort it can find, the bigger picture on growth tells a different story

Niesr says current limits on government borrowing fail to stimulate growth and hinder net zero ambitions