Rachel Reeves was yesterday accused of leaving Britain 'totally unprepared' for the coming economic storm as figures showed inflation was stubbornly high even before the Iran war.

The chancellor tells the Commons "contingency planning is taking place for every eventuality, so that we can keep costs down ...

It comes amid concern over the rising cost of oil and gas, following the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran.

Labour has been accused of resorting to tax rises and borrowing 'whenever there's a squeeze on its fiscal position'.

Mel Stride told LBC the Chancellor has left herself with “very little room for manoeuvre” because of the way she “mismanaged ...