No return to austerity in new spending plan, says UK's Rishi Sunak

Says constructive Brexit deal will 'hopefully' come

British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) said there would be no return to austerity in a spending plan that he will announce on Wednesday, even as the coronavirus crisis pushes the country’s debt further above £2 trillion ($2.7 trillion).

Sunak, who has rushed out massive government spending increases and tax cuts equating to about 10 per cent of economic output, said he would announce “quite a significant” increase in funding for public services.

"You will not see austerity next week," Sunak told Sky News on Sunday, saying his priority in the one-year spending plan was to fight the health and economic crises.

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