RACHEL REEVES has been warned that cutting prison funding in her spring budget tomorrow would be like “pouring petrol on an already blazing fire.”

With the Chancellor expected to announce swingeing cuts of around 7 per cent across government departments, the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) said that jails are in an “immediate crisis” and urged her to impose a wealth tax instead.

Unions have reacted with anger to government briefings on disability benefit cuts, public-sector job losses and big reductions in departmental budgets.