Jeremy Hunt vows to fill 1m vacancies but refuses to commit to tax cuts ahead of general election

Chancellor defends ‘back to work’ budget in round of TV interviews

Jeremy Hunt has vowed he would fill Britain’s more than one million job vacancies, while refusing to commit to tax cuts ahead of the next general election.

The chancellor faced scrutiny during a round of broadcast interviews after delivering his so-called “back to work” Budget, which included measures to incentivise the unemployed to seek jobs, such as childcare payments and tweaks to pensions and the benefits system.

Sitting down with BBC political editor Chris Mason, Mr Hunt was asked what the Conservatives had to say for their “dreadful record” of stagnant wages and a dire outlook for young people after 13 years in power.