Rachel Reeves has been informed that an additional £9 billion in tax revenue may be needed to prevent harsh spending cuts to public services, following concerns about increased borrowing costs and a demanding global financial environment.

The government has announced a budget that increases spending by £7 billion per year over the next five years, including tax hikes intended to address public finance challenges while boosting investment in the NHS and schools.

Scores of Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on an apartment block in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, as Israel intensifies its military operations in the area.

The government has pledged a new budget to revitalise the NHS, focusing on modernising the infrastructure and ensuring better healthcare delivery for the public.