Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to make further cuts to welfare benefits and government departments in her Spring Statement on Wednesday. The government announced big welfare spending reductions last week but the chancellor is set to expand the cuts after being told reforms to the system would save less than planned.

More than two dozen Labour MPs have broken ranks to oppose Rachel Reeves’s welfare cuts amid a growing backlash to her spring statement. To date, nine MPs have confirmed they will vote against the proposals when they are put to a vote in the Commons. A further 19 have gone public with their opposition to the plans.