What to expect from Jeremy Hunt’s spring budget

The chancellor’s biggest giveaway is likely to be a further cut to national insurance contributions

Jeremy Hunt is due to set out the government’s plans for tax and spending in his budget on Wednesday. In what is expected to be the last budget before a general election, the chancellor’s biggest giveaway is likely to be a further cut to the national insurance contributions paid by employees, after a 2p reduction in his autumn statement.

Meanwhile, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish updated economic forecasts and an assessment of the government’s finances for the next five years – running beyond the next election to 2029. Here is what to expect.