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New UK finance minister Healey to hold first budget on October 28
The budget will test Labour’s fiscal rules as Healey weighs new defence costs, devolution plans and cost-of-living measures against limited borrowing room.
On Friday, Chancellor John Healey announced his first Budget for October 28, pledging plans "built on fiscal discipline" to move "money and power out of Westminster."
Persistent inflation linked to the war in Iran threatens to erode the £22 billion buffer left by former Chancellor Rachel Reeves, with The National Institute of Economic and Social Research warning of higher interest rates.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham's devolution agenda and the £5 billion Defence Investment Plan require funding without clear payment details, forcing Healey to consider tax hikes or spending cuts.
Stephen Millard, Niesr's deputy director for macroeconomics, suggested Healey explore welfare or pension cuts, while Healey emphasized "fiscal credibility is the bedrock of economic stability and national security."
The government aims to "kickstart growth in every postcode" while navigating fiscal constraints, and Healey pledges to "abide by the fiscal rules" to protect against instability from the Middle East.