Further benefits cuts planned as Rachel Reeves forced to find extra £1.6bn

Chancellor risks wrath of Labour backbenchers with spring statement set to confirm deeper cuts

Rachel Reeves will make additional welfare cuts in her spring statement on Wednesday after the Office for Budget Responsibility rejected her estimate of savings from the changes announced last week.

The chancellor hoped to shift the focus from the benefits cuts, which appalled some Labour backbenchers, to promising to secure Britain's future" with a 2.2bn increase to defence spending.