Sunak says spring statement is ‘progressive’ in response to criticism from MPs

Chancellor called fiscal illusionist' for pledging tax cuts while driving up burden and not doing enough to help poorest

• Spring statement: key points at a glance
• Tax calculator: how will your income change?

Rishi Sunak has defended his spring statement from accusations that it failed to do enough to help the poorest in Britain with soaring living costs by arguing that extra help could have put government finances at risk.

In a fractious exchange with MPs on the House of Commons Treasury committee, the chancellor said he had been forced to make choices over where to prioritise support because of rising government borrowing costs as the British economy is buffeted by surging inflation made worse by Russia's war in Ukraine.