Rachel Reeves is set to announce major cuts in the Spring statement.

A cabinet minister was forced to deny that Rachel Reeves is preparing to usher in a fresh era of austerity.

The chancellor is set to unveil a fresh wave of public spending cuts when she delivers her Spring statement in the Commons on Wednesday.

Labour has already announced it will slash the welfare budget by £5 billion, and wants to cut the cost of the civil service by 15%.

On Radio Four’s Today programme this morning, transport secretary Heidi Alexander was challenged by presenter Justin Webb.

He........

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