Labour minister warns of 'difficult times' for Britons as he defends Budget decisions: 'We are investing in the future'

"We want to make sure that the working people and everyone around our country can get through these difficult times in the short-term whilst we fix the foundations of our economy," he said.

The minister emphasised that the Government's focus was on getting growth back into the economy, which he claimed was essential for the long-term prosperity of the nation.

Kyle stressed that while the measures were challenging, they were necessary to build an economy with "growth and fairness built into it".

Kyle outlined how the Government aimed to implement tax increases fairly while protecting working people.

"We needed to make sure that where we did have to take those difficult decisions and raise taxes, we did so in as fair a way as possible, so working people were protected," he explained.

The minister highlighted the Government's decision to raise the national living wage as a key measure to support workers during challenging economic conditions.

He also addressed concerns from the farming sector, noting special considerations had been made for agricultural businesses.

"Where we had to do difficult things which impacted, yes, the farmers, we did so in a way that recognised the special nature of farming to our economy," Kyle said, pointing out that farmers would pay half the amount of inheritance tax compared to other sectors.

The Budget decisions have raised concerns about their impact on mortgage holders, with rates expected to increase in the coming years.

Inflation has risen to 2.3 per cent, its highest level in six months, with economists attributing this directly to Budget policies.

Despite the current challenges, Kyle maintained an optimistic outlook for Britain's economic future.

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"We will get through this period as a country, and it is better having a Government that's taking the difficult decisions to get through this issue," he said.

The Science Secretary criticised the previous administration's approach, stating they "had no faith in the future" and were focused on "managing decline".

"We do not accept that decline is inevitable, which is why we took the measures that we did," Kyle emphasised.

He acknowledged that while the Government didn't enter office intending to increase taxes, such measures were necessary for long-term economic stability.

Kyle stressed that four months into the Government's term, they were actively "investing into the future of our country, including its infrastructure".

Mortgage rates are now forecast to climb to 4.5 per cent over the next three years, as inflation puts upward pressure on interest rates.

High street lenders have already begun responding, with Barclays increasing some fixed-rate deals by up to 0.56 percentage points.

Adrian Anderson, of mortgage broker Anderson Harris, warned that millions will face higher mortgage costs due to "avoidable" Budget decisions.

"Markets feared that the Budget would be inflationary, and low and behold, that's how they've reacted to it," Anderson said.