Jeremy Hunt urges millions of early retirees to return to work as he insists tax cuts must wait

Chancellor promises reforms to get people with long-term conditions or mental illness back into jobs

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has pledged to get millions of people who retired early during lockdown back into work – as he outlined a vision of using Brexit to drive economic growth.

Warning that businesses would struggle to grow if they cannot find enough staff, Mr Hunt told those who opted out of working life before retirement: “Britain needs you”.

He also said it was time for a fundamental programme of reforms to support people with long-term conditions or mental illness to overcome the barriers and prejudices that prevent them from working.