UK government borrowing was higher than expected in February, adding pressure to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of her Spring Statement next week.
Borrowing – the difference between spending and income from taxes – was £10.7bn last month, according to official figures.
The government’s independent forecaster had predicted that borrowing would be £6.5bn for the month.
Economists have suggested Reeves will announce spending cuts next week in order to meet her self-imposed rules for the economy, which the Treasury reiterated were “non-negotiable”.
“We must go further and faster to create an agile and productive state that works for people,” said Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury.