Tag: economics

The Chancellor is set to raise taxes again – by as much as £30 billion

It has felt like an eternity, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves will finally unveil her second Autumn Budget on Wednesday 26 November. This blog begins with an explanation of how the Budget process works, then attempts to estimate the size of the new financial hole. The next instalment will look at how she is likely to … Continue reading The Chancellor is set to raise taxes again – by as much as £30 billion →

The Government should rethink its plans for the National Living Wage

The Times is reporting today (Saturday) that the Chancellor is likely to confirm a rise in the National Living Wage (NLW) of about 4%, from £12.21 to at least £12.70, in next month’s Budget. She will also recommit to extending the full living wage to young people between the ages of 18 and 21 (where a lower … Continue reading The Government should rethink its plans for the National Living Wage →

The ‘Brexit blame game’ is pretty desperate stuff

Rachel Reeves is getting her excuses in early ahead of next month’s Budget, which looks set to be a painful repeat of last October’s “one off”. The Chancellor has already blamed “external headwinds”, “Tory austerity” and “the ongoing impact of Liz Truss’s mini-Budget”. It is no surprise that she has now dropped the “B-word” too. … Continue reading The ‘Brexit blame game’ is pretty desperate stuff →