UK Treasury chief faces headwinds as he delivers first budget under new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham

UK budget 2026: Modest measures and ‘breathing space’

Delivering his first budget, the Chancellor John Healey outlined a plethora of relatively modest measures designed to show that the government is on the side of ordinary people.

POLITICAL COMMENT: Budget delivers breathing space today and fresh hope for the future for Portsmouth

Families will receive direct help with energy bills, motorists will see fuel duty frozen and thousands more high-street businesses will be taken out of business rates, as the Labour Government backs working people today while investing in Britain’s future.

Budget 2026: John Healey’s ‘Do No Harm’ Strategy Puts the UK Economy on Borrowed Time

The Chancellor's cautious statement leaves the UK's debt-laden economy facing more questions than answers, argues Simon Nixon

Budget 2026: £100 energy payment, fuel freeze extension and tariff reduction for beans, chocolate and kerosene

John Healey has announced the Executive will receive funding for a £100 household energy payment for lower income households while a temporary VAT cut on electricity bills is to be extended until July 1, 2027.

Think Tanks Pan Healey’s ‘Do-Nothing’ Budget

The reactions are in from Westminster’s wonks on Healey’s Breathing Space Budget. They’re struggling to breathe… Onward’s director Simon Clarke said: “Britain is drowning in three trillion pounds of debt, while the Chancellor shuffled costs from one pocket to the next… Scrapping standing charges on gas bills only to load the cost onto gas usage…

Stark contrasts at the heart of Healey’s first Budget

There were a couple of stark contrasts at the heart of John Healey’s first Budget.