Treasury Minister James Murray has declined to confirm that the Government is set to raise employers’ National Insurance contributions in the Budget, saying that “difficult choices” must be made.

He said on GB News: “We said that working people pay National Insurance, income tax, and so we've had commitments around those and VAT.

“I can appreciate that over the next few weeks, and indeed over the previous couple of weeks, there's going to be plenty of speculation about the Budget.

“This always happens in the run up to a Budget and the Chancellor will set out all of the decisions in the round about taxation, spending and welfare on October 30."