Rachel Reeves speech LIVE: Chancellor provides main pre-Autumn Budget speech

Rachel Reeves will today promise to protect the NHS and improve the cost of living for struggling Brits in a major pre-Budget speech.

The Chancellor is expected to vow to “make the choices necessary” as she grapples with a £20billion to £30billion blackhole in the public finances. Ms Reeves, who will deliver her second Budget on November 26, will say the decisions “will shape our economy for years to come”.

It comes just days after Keir Starmer refused to repeat Labour’s vow to protect working people from increases to income tax, VAT, and national insurance.

Speaking from No. 9’s press briefing room in Westminster, she’ll try discuss the “important choices” needed to cut NHS waiting lists and the national debt, while easing the cost of living.

One measure being considered is help reducing the cost of energy bills. The Treasury is looking at cutting the 5% rate of VAT charged on electricity and gas. Estimates suggest this would save the average household around £86-per-year.

Follow all the latest updates from the speech below