Healey’s First Budget to Push Hard UK Choices to Another Day (1)

Inheritance tax, student loans and pensions: Healey's potential Budget ‘rabbits’

Andy Burnham – and the Labour Party – have been riding high ever since he barged Sir Keir Starmer aside to take the controls of Britain in July. A host of popular, if small, cost of living measures, a barnstorming speech at Labour’s annual conference and Labour taking a lead in the polls for the first time in more than a year have all seen spirits soar after the gloom-laden days of Starmer and his Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Now, however, there ar…

Autumn Budget 2026: What does the bond market want?

John Healey is not expected to rock the boat in his maiden Budget next week. Looking at the combustible bond market, that’s probably just as well, writes Ali Lyon. John Healey is, the well-worn cliche goes, walking a tightrope. Boxed in from three directions, the Chancellor could certainly have hoped for an easier backdrop in [...]

Healey's First Budget to Push Hard UK Choices to Another Day

Healey’s First Budget to Push Hard UK Choices to Another Day (1)

Britons looking for a flavor of the upcoming first budget of Andy Burnham’s UK government need look no further than the descriptors emanating from Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey and his officials at the Treasury: Do no harm. Steady as she goes. Focused.

The Bond Market May Hold the Key to the Chancellor’s Budget

With borrowing costs rising and the public finances under pressure, tax cuts may have to wait.  But will the Government make the difficult decisions now, or leave some of them until later? The Chancellor faces a difficult balancing act ahead of the Budget on 28 October.