Chancellor’s rationale

Autumn Statement highlights

Public services

Anyone who says there are easy answers is not being straight with the British people: some argue for spending cuts, but that would not be compatible with high-quality public services.

Taxes

I have tried to be fair by following two broad principles: firstly, we ask those with more to contribute more; and secondly, we avoid the tax rises that most damage growth.

Compassionate Chancellor

We also protect the vulnerable – because to be British is to be compassionate, and this is a compassionate government.

Sound money

British families make sacrifices every day to live within their means and so, too, must their government because the United Kingdom will always pay its way.

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, meets pupils at St Jude’s Church of England Primary School in south London after delivering his Autumn Statement to Parliament