McDonnell advisor: Fiscal charter ‘just a stunt'

MPs are set to vote on George Osborne’s fiscal charter, which would force future governments to run a budget surplus.

David Blanchflower, an economic advisor to shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell, told the Today programme that Mr Osborne’s charter is of “no obvious economic benefit” and lacks flexibility.

Mr Blanchflower, a former member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee, added:

“Playing silly stunts and making up rules that nobody is going to obey is not the right thing to do.”