A breathing space Budget? This is asphyxiation October 29, 2026 If there were treats in John Healey’s pre-Halloween Budget they were hidden in a gloopy soup of tricks. Forget the talk about a low-key, ‘do no harm’ fiscal event; the Chancellor has delivered a mess of new interventions, subsidies, tax rises, quangos and complications against a backdrop of truly terrifying economic forecasts. Let’s start with [...]
Healey’s Budget spoiled by ‘grim’ living standards squeeze October 29, 2026 Britain is trapped in a “grim” decade of stagnant living standards, the budget watchdog has said, after John Healey kicked some of the government’s toughest spending decisions on defence and welfare into next year. The government’s fiscal watchdog said that families are about to see household income drop as a result of the country’s rising [...]
Budget 2026: Healey leans on private sector for defence investment drive October 28, 2026 The Chancellor has set up a new defence financing taskforce and unveiled fresh funding for investment in the arms industry amid a concerted effort to lean on the private sector to drive Britain’s rearmament push. John Healey swerved any concrete public sector defence pledges at his maiden Budget, promising to provide detail on how the [...]
This Budget ducked every hard decision and handed the City the bill October 28, 2026 Labour’s tax rises will be felt in your pocket regardless of whether you tax people directly or not, and with the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasting a squeeze on real wages, families will have less money to absorb them, says Julia Lopez We should be honest: a ‘nothing to see here’ Budget was not what [...]
‘Pretty bold’: Burnham jumps to defend Healey’s Budget October 28, 2026 Andy Burnham has jumped to the defence of John Healey’s first Budget, claiming it was “pretty bold” and looked to “help everybody”. The Prime Minister said on Wednesday afternoon that the Chancellor delivered on support to British households and businesses. He told broadcasters: “It’s pretty bold to help 20m households with their energy costs through [...]
Autumn Budget 2026: Labour is treating London as a cash cow October 28, 2026 The plans that John Healey announced today to squeeze more from banks will hit London hardest too. Our world-beating financial services sector won’t stay in the City and Canary Wharf for long if it becomes uncompetitive. Instead of letting London’s key business sectors thrive, Labour punishes success, and every time they do, it is Londoners [...]
Healey funds high street tax cuts with raid on gambling firms and online sellers October 28, 2026 The government will fund tax breaks for small high street shops by hiking taxes on gambling and cracking down on online sellers, John Healey said. In his first Budget, the Chancellor said he will slash taxes on the high street by raising the threshold at which small firms start paying business rates from £12,000 to [...]
Santander UK turns to more cost-cutting after profit slip October 28, 2026 Santander UK said it expects to make more “efficiencies” after its profit slipped in the first nine months of the year due to a drag from restructuring costs and motor finance costs. The UK arm of Spain’s Banco Santander reported a £1.2bn pre-tax profit for the nine months ending 30 September, down six per cent [...]
The Bed Tax: The Wrong Measure, for the Wrong Purpose, at the Wrong Time October 27, 2026 As the Government urges the nation to prepare for crises, it risks undermining the very hospitality businesses that keep people safe, support essential workers and help London function. Central London Alliance is calling for democratic accountability, a proper economic and social assessment, and a fundamental rethink of the proposed Overnight Visitor Levy. The timing could [...]
Autumn Budget 2026: Healey will buy some time with the bond markets October 27, 2026 Ahead of the upcoming Budget, the Debt Management Office’s financing choices and shifting market demands pose a critical test for government borrowing stability, says Helen Thomas Another year, another Budget. The same party remains in charge, but a fresh cast of characters will deliver it, bringing fresh uncertainty over the government’s economic direction. For John [...]