JAM tomorrow at the very earliest was Labour ministers’ pre-Budget pledge as the government struggles to move on from its misery messaging.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned that Wednesday’s long-awaited Budget will not be enough to restore the NHS to health.

Her gloomy outlook was echoed by Health Secretary Wes Streeting as the Cabinet’s two leading Blairites competed to dampen expectations of any early turn-around in the national malaise.