UK's reputation has taken a knock, admits Rishi Sunak

The UK’s reputation has taken “a bit of a knock” this year, Rishi Sunak has admitted, as he vowed to restore economic stability.

The prime minister said tax rises and spending cuts in Thursday’s autumn statement were needed to fix a “difficult” situation but it would done be done in a “fair” way.

Critics of his approach fear it could worsen an expected UK recession.

But Mr Sunak said reducing inflation was the “number one challenge”.

Speaking to the BBC’s Political Editor Chris Mason at the G20 summit in Indonesia, he said it was “in everyone’s long-term interest” to reduce UK government debt.

He added it was important to “limit” mortgage repayments for homeowners, which have risen in the wake of September’s mini-budget.

“The best way to do that is to get a grip of our borrowing levels, and have our debt on a sustainable basis falling,” he added.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who will unveil the Autumn Statement on Thursday, has warned that everyone will pay more tax under his plans to repair the public finances.

The budget, the government’s second financial package in under two months, comes after mostly now-abandoned tax cuts in the mini-budget sparked financial turmoil.

The Treasury has not confirmed details, but the BBC has been told Mr Hunt is set to announce spending cuts of about £35bn and plans to raise £20bn in tax.

Asked whether he would heed calls from Tory MPs to protect school budgets, Mr Sunak said he couldn’t comment on specifics ahead of the statement.

But he added: “Even though the situation is difficult […] we will make those decisions balancing everything we have to.

“People can see that yes, the approach we’ve taken is fair, yes the approach we’ve taken is compassionate when considered in the round”.

“Taking a step back, the number one challenge we face is inflation,” Mr Sunak added.

“It’s important that we get a grip of that. It’s important we limit the increase in mortgage rates that people are experiencing.”