Healey avoids bond market backlash with ‘placeholder Budget’ October 28, 2026 John Healey has managed to avoid punishment at the hands of the bond market through a “placeholder Budget” that delayed big decisions on defence and welfare and left questions hanging over the government’s future spending plans. The Chancellor announced a raft of cost of living measures as part of his fiscal statement, funded by taxes [...]
Budget 2026: Healey bets £700m on AI to boost British tech firms October 28, 2026 John Healey has unveiled more than £700m in funding for AI safety and British tech firms, including a new £40m unit to tackle rogue AI systems. The package, much of which was trailed ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, includes £120m for the AI Security Institute and £165m for biosecurity, as ministers seek to strengthen Britain’s defences [...]
‘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 [...]
Labour workers’ rights overhaul to inflict ‘negative’ hit on economy, OBR says October 28, 2026 Britain’s fiscal watchdog has warned Labour’s overhaul of workers’ rights will have a “negative economic impact” as the cost to businesses will far outstrip any boost to workers’ productivity. The government’s sweeping employment reforms in its landmark Employment Rights Act (ERA) have reduced the qualifying period for unfair dismissal to six months, removed the compensation [...]
‘Jobs killer’: Gambling industry lashes out at Healey betting tax raid October 28, 2026 After the Chancellor announced a tax hike for the gambling and betting sector, Saskia Koopman dissected the industry reaction Machine Games Duty (MGD) will rise from 20 to 25 per cent in April 2027, below the 40 per cent demanded by campaigners and some Labour MPs. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) warned that almost [...]
Budget 2026: Healey faces ‘£11bn hole’ as growth slashed and inflation to rise higher October 28, 2026 Britain’s fiscal watchdog has predicted that growth will slump and joblessness and inflation will surge in the coming years, as they warned John Healey will have to find billions of pounds more revenue between 2029 and 2032 in order to prevent cuts to government spending. The Office for Budget Responsibility said the Chancellor would need [...]
Autumn Budget 2026: Bank tax will hardly ‘do no harm’ October 28, 2026 This Autumn Budget fell a little short of the ‘do no harm’ test, especially concerning the bank tax, writes Miles Celic
Autumn Budget 2026: Wary Healey presents a Ming Vase Budget October 28, 2026 Healey has tried to avoid breaking anything – including Labour’s poll lead – in his Ming Vase Budget, writes Julian Jessop.
Autumn Budget 2026: Tax hikes will negate boost from hosting Olympic Games October 28, 2026 Tax hikes and regulation announced in Wednesday’s Budget will negate any financial boost from Great Britain hosting the Olympic Games in the 2040s, the UK government has been warned. Chancellor John Healey confirmed in his fiscal statement that a £7m fund would be made available to conduct a “feasibility study for a potential future bid [...]
‘Is that it?’: Badenoch lays into Healey Budget speech October 28, 2026 Kemi Badenoch has poured scorn on Labour’s welfare spending plans as she slammed John Healey’s inaugural Budget speech. The Conservative leader admonished the Chancellor for failing to cut levels of government spending and said the government was to blame for a fall in growth projections next year from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). “I [...]