The Chancellor faces calls to resign after the fiscal watchdog reportedly told ministers months ago there was no gap in the public finances. Critics say she misled voters to justify tax rises in the Budget. Allies argue the measures fund priorities and stability; she rejects claims.

ONS figures indicate a sharp rise in young Britons emigrating, with leavers now accounting for nearly half of net migration. Analysts warn of a potential brain drain hitting growth and the public finances, increasing pressure on Reeves’s Budget and the government’s economic strategy.

The Chancellor’s Budget freezes income tax and National Insurance thresholds for three years, expected to raise about £30bn via fiscal drag. Welfare spending increases, including scrapping the two-child limit. Critics say this breaks manifesto pledges; supporters argue it targets help where it’s most needed.

The Chancellor’s plan to raise the minimum wage, including an 8.5% rise for 18–20s from April, has drawn warnings from business groups that higher costs could cut entry-level jobs. The row builds ahead of the Budget, with questions over tax changes and the policy’s impact on growth.