Hunt denies planning to lift fuel duty; pound higher despite grim outlook – as it happened

The government has made no decision" on whether to increase the rate of fuel duty on petrol, Jeremy Hunt insists as he defends autumn statement

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Jeremy Hunt has also defended pencilling tough cuts to public spending after the next election.

He told BBC television that making cuts now would worsen the downturn.

I think it's important to support the economy, to support families and businesses through a difficult period. So I think it'd be the wrong thing to make that recession worse.

As an energy importer during an energy price shock, Britain is getting poorer. Deciding how we do so was, to a significant extent, the choice facing the Chancellor.

He has decided that households will do so with higher energy bills, higher taxes, and worse public services than previously expected.