Hunt set to unveil tax cuts despite public services warnings

Jeremy Hunt is set to announce a 2p cut to National Insurance as he delivers his pre-election Budget on Wednesday aimed at winning over voters.

The Chancellor is expected to defy calls from within Downing Street and many Conservative MPs to reduce income tax, which would be more costly to the Government but more popular with voters, after the fiscal watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) downgraded the amount of fiscal headroom available for tax cuts.

It comes as experts warn that a possibly implausible spending squeeze after the election could further harm strained public services, with the Chancellor’s national insurance cut expected to be funded by lower public spending over the next five years.

Follow i‘s live blog for updates.