In a pledge to Mirror readers, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed to deliver a Budget that will help slash NHS waiting lists, cut debt, and bring down the cost of living
Rachel Reeves has promised to get a grip on the cost of living to help support families after years of Tory austerity.
In a pledge to Mirror readers, the Chancellor vowed to deliver a Budget that will help slash NHS waiting lists, cut debt, and bring down the cost of living.
Ms Reeves will deliver her second Budget on November 26, in which she is expected to scrap the two-child benefit cap, unveil taxes on the biggest properties, and take action to bring down energy bills.
She promised “working families” were at the heart of the Budget, and that she would build a fairer, stronger and more secure Britain.
Ms Reeves said: “Working families will be at the front of my mind as I set out how we will cut NHS waiting lists, cut national debt and cut the cost of living. These are the priorities of the country and my priorities as your Chancellor.
“Cutting NHS waiting lists because we promised we would pick the NHS up from its knees, reverse the years of austerity inflicted on us by the Tories, and stop patients languishing for months before getting the treatment they need.
“Cutting national debt because there is nothing progressive about spending £1 in every £10 on debt interest, when that money should be going into our schools, our hospitals, our police and our communities.
“Cutting the cost of living, because I know it remains the number one pressure on households.
“High prices, which are painful for all, hit ordinary families most. Mirror readers will know that the economy isn’t working for working people, and for too many it feels stuck.
“That’s why in my Budget on Wednesday I will take action to grip the cost of living.”
So far the Government has cut NHS waiting lists, extended the prescription charge freeze in England, and rolled out breakfast clubs to ensure over half a million children don’t start the school day hungry, saving parents £450 a year.
Ms Reeves added: “My promise to Mirror readers is that my Budget will go further.
“This will be a Budget for you and your family. A Budget to build a fairer, stronger, and more secure Britain.”
Wednesday will also see Ms Reeves announce more planners are to be recruited across England as the government supercharges its commitment to build 1.5 million homes.
The Chancellor is expected to announce a £48m Budget boost for 350 new planners to help end the years of dither and delay that have set back some of Britain’s most important projects.
Ms Reeves’ Budget is expected to increase graduate planners, strengthening the capacity of the planning system to deliver better homes for hardworking people, better infrastructure, and thriving communities.
A Treasury source said: “We’re putting an end to years of dither and delay of previous governments so we can get spades in the ground not stuck in the mud. That means turbocharging the number of planners to keep pace with our ambitions to build 1.5 million homes and make 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects”.
A fortnight ago the Chancellor used a rare pre-Budget speech to put the country on notice for tax increases, in what would have been a clear breach of Labour’s manifesto not to hike key taxes – including VAT, national insurance, and income tax – on working people.
However, following better than expected forecasts, any tax increases are now expected to be more targeted.
The Budget is also expected to see the Government unveil plans to regularly name and shame employers who breach national minimum wage rules.
A Treasury source said the expected changes will provide further protection to vulnerable workers and ensure businesses have no place to hide. The reforms are also aimed at clearing a backlog of cases.
The Treasury source said: “This Government is cracking down on unscrupulous employers to protect the country’s lowest-paid workers and ensure fair pay for hard work.
“We are sending a clear message – those who short change their staff will not be allowed to hide.”
Treasury figures said 500 employers failed to pay the minimum wage in October, affecting 42,000 workers.
Among other measures expected to be announced in the Budget, Border Force and HM Revenue & Customs will receive new powers to seize illegal vapes on the spot and issue £10,000 fines.
New criminal offences could land business owners who break the rules with prison time.