London | Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sought on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) to revitalise Britain’s stagnating economy with a mix of childcare and pension reforms to tempt people back to work, and £9 billion ($16 billion) in corporate tax breaks to boost weak business investment.

Saying the world’s sixth-biggest economy was now set to avoid a recession this year – even if it will still contract – Mr Hunt delivered a defiantly upbeat budget, announcing plans to extend help for households hit hard by soaring energy bills and freezing a tax on vehicle fuel.

Reuters