Jermey Hunt accused Labour of lying about the state of the public finances and insisted it will have £39 billion available at the budget. The shadow chancellor said anger among Labour backbenchers over cuts to the winter fuel allowance shows even they do not believe Rachel Reeves’ claims she has to fill a £22 billion black hole.

Jeremy Hunt has claimed the Government could have a budget surplus of £39 billion rather than the “fictitious” £22 billion blackhole it says it inherited from the Tories. The shadow chancellor also raised concerns that welfare reform will be “untouchable” under Labour,

Jeremy Hunt accuses Labour of lying about public finances