Rishi Sunak has defended his spring statement amid much criticism as he argued the UK is recovering from its biggest shock in 300 years.

The chancellor said he knows families are struggling with the rising cost of living and that is “why I announced a tax plan which delivers the biggest net cut in personal taxes in over a quarter of a century”.

Mr Sunak told Sky News: “I’m cutting fuel duty at 5p a litre, raising national insurance thresholds, giving 30 million workers a tax saving of £300 and cutting income tax for the first time.”

After the spring statement yesterday, the chancellor has been accused of failing to help those who are out of work and on lower incomes.

But he defended his position, saying: “I can’t solve every problem and I’ve always been honest about that and where I can make a difference, of course, I want to and I think the plan I announced yesterday will do exactly that and support hard-working British families.”

He added that those who are the least well off “are my priority” and they will benefit from a “more generous” Universal Credit system, tax cuts and a 6.6% increase in the national living wage from next month.

On the point that taxes are going to be at their highest level ever, Mr Sunak said: “That is a reflection of two things – first and foremost the face we’ve experienced a pandemic, that was a pretty exceptional episode in our country’s history.

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“Borrowing spiralled up to levels we haven’t seen since the Second World War, [it was the] biggest economic shock in over 300 years and we had to introduce interventions like furlough. I think most people would understand an exceptional experience like that probably does lead to an exceptional response and that’s what we’re now grappling with, the aftermath of COVID.

“But also, continue to invest in public services and that’s what people want us to do as well.”

Asked how those who are struggling to pay for food and heating, Mr Sunak referred to the 5p a litre cut on fuel he announced on Wednesday.

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