Government borrowing last month jumped to the highest level for May outside the pandemic era despite a boost to the tax take after the Chancellor’s national insurance hike.

The Office for National Statistics said the total volume of retail sales fell by 2.7 in May – the biggest drop since the end of 2023.

Lionel Messi lit up the Club World Cup with a fine free-kick as Inter Milan came from behind to beat Porto in Atlanta. Champions League winners Paris St Germain were stunned by South American ...