Hunt hit by higher-than-expected public borrowing despite rise in tax revenues

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is under pressure to announce tax cuts in a pre-election budget next March. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

Government borrowing was higher than expected last month despite an increase in tax revenues and a reduction in the level of energy support for millions of households.

Analysts blamed increases in the cost of welfare benefits and the debt interest bill for a monthly deficit of £14.3bn in November. That was lower than the £15.2bn in the same month last year, but higher than City economists expected.