John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to George Osborne’s refusal on two occasions this morning on the Andrew Marr Show to commit to his £10bn surplus target in 2019/20, said:

“George Osborne’s economic and fiscal plans are in utter chaos just months since he announced them.

"We all know he gave up a long time ago on his 2010 promise to eradicate the deficit by today, but now he can’t even stick to the deficit reduction plans he announced as recently as July.

"Labour were the first to call on the Chancellor to target a lower surplus as a way he could reverse his tax credit cuts and stick to his self-imposed fiscal straightjacket. Now it seems he is being forced to take our advice as his economic and fiscal plans are falling apart.

"Rather than engaging in a cynical Westminster game of smoke and mirrors in this week’s Spending Review, it’s time the Chancellor acknowledges the challenges facing our country.  He must reverse his tax credit cuts and fully protect frontline policing from any cuts.”