£22bn black hole? Sounds about right...

A £22BILLION black hole in public finances left by the Tories is a fair estimate, says an expert.

- GRAHAM HISCOTT and LIZZY BUCHAN

The assessment by Andy King, below, a former Office for Budget Responsibilty member, came as it was revealed the Treasury may have broken the law.

It failed to disclose a £9.5bn black hole which the Labour government inherited, MPs were told.

OBR head Richard Hughes said this led to a "systemic failure" in forecasts it published alongside the Budget in March.

Labour claims the Tory black hole grew to £22bn due to unfunded policies, the impacts of inflation and public sector pay settlements.