CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt has announced a spring budget will be set out on March 6 - in what could be his last chance to introduce tax changes before the next General Election.

Mr Hunt has commissioned the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to prepare an economic and fiscal forecast to be presented to Parliament alongside the budget next year.

The Tories have been dropping hints they could make attention-grabbing pledges on housing and taxes as Rishi Sunak struggles to turn around his party's major deficit in the polls.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove suggested to the Times newspaper that the Conservatives will promise to cut the up-front cost of a home for first-time buyers in a pre-election giveaway.

And the Prime Minister has ordered a "gear change" to reduce the historically high tax burden, possibly axing inheritance tax and reducing income tax, according to the Telegraph newspaper.

The next General Election is likely in 2024, it has been reported.