Rachel Reeves defended winter fuel cuts as the “right decision” and insisted pensioners most in need will still receive help. In a speech to the Labour conference that was disrupted by hecklers, the Chancellor said she would not “duck” difficult decisions.

Chancellor says £22bn gap in current spending budget and state pension rise meant she had to make decision on means-testing fuel payments. Early evening summary 18:20 Rachel Reeves has defended her decisions to cut the winter fuel allowance and abandon infrastructure projects as she argued the decisions taken in the early weeks of the Labour government would pave the way to a more optimistic economic future.

In her first major speech since becoming the UK's first female finance minister, Rachel Reeves has made it clear that Britain will not return to an era of austerity, despite the growing concerns over the state of the country's finances.

By Alistair Smout, Andrew MacAskill and Elizabeth Piper LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) -British finance minister Rachel Reeves ruled out a return to economic austerity on Monday, trying to brighten the gloomy tone her party had adopted since its landslide election victory in July.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves promised to deliver a UK budget showing “real ambition” next month as she used her speech at the Labour Party’s annual conference to project a positive vision for the country.