Rachel Reeves has three options to dodge an economic crisis and all are unthinkable

As her 9.9bn of headroom evaporates, chancellor will have to raise taxes, cut spending or break iron-clad' fiscal rules

When Rachel Reeves stood up in the House of Commons on budget day on 30 October as this country's first woman chancellor, she was brimming with pride: To girls and young women everywhere, I say: Let there be no ceiling on your ambition, your hopes and your dreams."

Four months on, however, there are few women or men, young or old, at Westminster, who would envy Reeves's lot in charge of the country's finances. The bind she finds herself in is more the stuff of a chancellor's nightmares than dreams.