UK borrowing figures heap pressure on Rishi Sunak to ditch national insurance hike

Latest public finance data shows government borrowing 13bn less this year than forecast in October budget

Pressure is mounting on Rishi Sunak to scrap April's planned increase in national insurance contributions (NICs) after the latest figures for the public finances showed the government borrowing 13bn less this year than expected in the October budget.

With cost of living pressures mounting, thinktanks and City analysts said a faster drop in the UK's deficit would prompt the chancellor into a rethink of the 12bn tax hike to pay for the NHS and social care.