Britain is set for solid growth and falling inflation this year but the Bank of England has little scope to cut interest rates further, the NIESR think tank predicted on Wednesday in a relatively upbeat set of forecasts.

The central bank cut rates for the third time in about six months as it said economic growth had been weaker than expected.

Mann's first vote for a cut during this cycle marked a departure from her comments in August, when she warned Britain not to be 'seduced' into believing that the battle against inflation is over, citing wage growth and related concerns in the services sector.

Bank of England policymaker Catherine Mann said on Tuesday that her unexpected vote for a half percentage-point cut in interest rates last week did not mean she wanted a series of rate cuts or that she would vote the same way again in March.

The Bank of England is widely expected to cut interest rates for the third time in six months later Thursday even though inflation remains above its target.

Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill pushed back against colleagues voting for a large interest rate cut, arguing that they are “rushing” to change policy too quickly.

Bank of England interest rate-setter Catherine Mann said companies will struggle to raise prices this year as consumers are hit by job losses and spending softens, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Catherine Mann, a policymaker at the Bank of England (BoE), clarified her stance on interest rate cuts during a speech on Tuesday. Her recent vote for a half percentage-point cut in interest rates, which came as a surprise to investors,

LONDON (Reuters) - The Bank of England cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday, judging a sharp upward revision to its inflation forecasts for this year will prove temporary.