Former IFS chief Paul Johnson warns Labour’s planned council tax surcharge on £2m-plus homes is a sticking plaster that risks mishandling and may not raise the hoped-for £400m. Around 100,000 households could face about £4,500 extra. He says the council tax system needs full reform.
Over 1,000 people have been safeguarded through new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, which let courts swiftly impose restrictions on suspected abusers. The minister said early intervention is working and urged continued reporting and robust support services for victims.
Washington and a European partner voiced optimism over a revised 19‑point peace plan after Geneva talks, leaving major choices to the leaders. The draft takes the partner’s key points on board, while the other side has yet to review it. Further diplomacy is planned ahead of a possible leaders’ meeting.
Ahead of tomorrow’s Budget, reports indicate the OBR will cut growth forecasts for 2026 and each year to 2029. A minister has called it a “growth emergency”, while party figures urge a credible plan to restore voter trust and spur investment.
The former PM says he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year after his wife urged him to get tested. He now backs targeted screening to detect cases earlier and cut deaths, encouraging men to seek checks if they have concerns.
A new poll urges the Chancellor to prioritise the cost of living in the autumn Budget, with most voters backing higher taxes on wealth. Campaigners say targeting the super‑rich would fund help for struggling households; many are willing to accept rises if the richest pay more.
Polling urges Chancellor Rachel Reeves to prioritise the cost of living in the autumn Budget, with 64% backing higher taxes on wealth. Voters say they could accept rises if the richest shoulder them, seeing targeted measures as support for struggling households.
Reeves will impose a surcharge on about 100,000 high‑value homes, averaging £4,500, expected to raise £400m–£650m. Collected via council tax bills, it targets the most expensive properties and forms part of wider fiscal plans to bolster the public finances.
Rachel Reeves plans a £15bn expansion of welfare in the Budget, raising benefits and adjusting child support. Critics warn workers will shoulder the cost via tax rises, labelling it a giveaway. Ministers say the measures target poverty and support low‑income families.
Analysis warns pensioners could be about £800 a year worse off if the Chancellor extends the freeze on the income-tax personal allowance to 2030. The House of Commons Library says it could pull hundreds of thousands into tax and cost pensioners around £7bn in 2029–30.