Sunak faces calls for help with living costs as budget deficit lower than forecast

Tax receipts are weaker than expected, revealing impact of UK's slowing economy

The chancellor is expected to come under renewed pressure to offer a larger financial package of support to low-income families suffering from the cost of living crisis after the public spending deficit in April came in lower than expected.

With the cabinet understood to be concerned about the government's falling poll ratings as the cost of living crisis escalates, the government borrowed 18.6bn last month - lower than forecast and down by 5.6bn from a year ago, according to Office for National Statistics figures.