Overview

• Chancellor Jeremy Hunt warned of a £2bn real-term cut in NHS funding, the largest since the 1970s, as he finalizes the budget.
• Critics, including the IFS and opposition parties, urge Hunt to prioritize public service funding over tax cuts amid deteriorating public finance forecasts.
• The planned cuts could force the NHS to reduce staffing, pay, and patient services, exacerbating the already strained health service.
• Labour accuses the Tories of adopting its policies for a pre-election giveaway, while the shadow chancellor warns it will take time to reverse the Tories' economic damage.
• The NHS clampdown on agency worker spending and the potential extension of fuel duty freeze are among the speculated budget measures.