Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to announce Budget with National Insurance set to be cut

Jeremy Hunt will announce the Spring Budget today amid mounting speculation National Insurance will be cut in a boost for workers.

The Tory Chancellor will outline his tax and spending plans for the year in front of MPs. The SNP has urged Hunt to increase NHS spending, invest more in green energy, give energy support to struggling families and tax the rich more.

Labour has warned that "nothing the Chancellor says or does can undo the economic vandalism of the Conservatives over the past decade." Hunt is expected to announce a 2p cut in national insurance when he appears before MPs later today.He has reportedly decided to cut national insurance rather than the more expensive option of a 2p reduction in income tax.A cut in in national insurance will affect Scotland, whereas an income tax cut would not have.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had hinted at a "union tax cut" when he was speaking at Scottish Tory conference last weekend.SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn urged Hunt not to cut taxes and to instead use the available headroom to deliver more money for public services.He said: "It's increasingly clear the future of the NHS is at stake - and the SNP is the only party standing up for our NHS by demanding the funding it needs."The UK government has already slashed Scotland's budget - and now the Tory Chancellor is cutting public services to the bone.

It has to stop."The SNP's message to the Chancellor ahead of the UK budget is clear - don't take the axe to our NHS."Instead of imposing cuts, Jeremy Hunt should be investing to improve public services, help families with the cost of living and boost economic growth."The SNP is calling on the Chancellor to use the available headroom to deliver a £15billion funding boost for