UK government borrowing almost £20bn lower than expected

Despite figures for six months to end of September, analysts play down chance of pre-election tax cuts

Jeremy Hunt has been given a short-term boost from the public finances after official figures showed government borrowing is close to £20bn lower than expected for the first six months of the current financial year.

Official figures showed public sector net borrowing in the six months to the end of September came in £19.8bn below the forecast made by the Office for Budget Responsibility at the March budget.