Jeremy Hunt has announced the date of 6 March for a spring budget, fuelling speculation over the timing of the next general election despite the Conservatives trailing in the opinion polls.
The chancellor said he had commissioned the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to prepare forecasts for the economy and public finances to be presented to parliament alongside a spring budget on 6 March 2024.
Labour’s lead over the Conservatives is at 13 points, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.
More details to follow…