UK government borrows more than expected in setback before budget

October figures represent final snapshot of public finances before Rachel Reeves's tax and spending statement

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Rachel Reeves was urged to use next week's budget to create significantly more headroom against her fiscal rules, after official figures showed the UK government borrowed almost 10bn more than forecast in the year to October.

In the final snapshot of the public finances before the chancellor's crunch budget, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said borrowing - the difference between public spending and income - was 17.4bn last month.