LONDON - Rachel Reeves has blamed sexism for the mayhem surrounding her Budget as she begged Labour MPs to get behind the plans.
The chancellor made a desperate appeal to restive backbenchers as she prepares to deliver the long-awaited package.
Reeves admitted that workers are looking down the barrel of another round of tax hikes, despite her explicit pledge a year ago that she would not return for more.
However, she talked up her determination to scrap the two-child benefit cap - part of an eye-watering £15 billion boost in welfare spending she is expected to announce.
Adding to the laundry list of factors she has blamed for the new gulf in the public finances - previously including Brexit, Tory austerity and Donald Trump - Reeves said she was a victim of ‘misogyny’.
The economy has been battered during weeks of chaotic briefing which saw the chancellor openly talk up an income tax rise - before humiliatingly ditching the idea.
However, there is still set to be pain for ordinary Britons, with fears of ‘death by a thousand tax rises’ as Reeves tries to fill a black hole estimated at up to £35 billion.
The Financial Times reported that the Treasury has been urging banks to speak up for the government’s policies.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting is expected to confirm this morning that the ‘sugar tax’ will be extended to cover milkshakes and lattes.
Treasury sources have been all-but confirming that the hated freeze on tax thresholds will be kept in place for another two years.
That ‘stealth raid’ will raise billions of pounds by dragging millions of people deeper into the tax system.
Experts said that continuing the freeze amounted to Labour reneging on past promises not to increase taxes on working people.
Rachel Reeves. (Pic: Bloomberg.com)