The prime minister has denied speculation from some opposition parties that he will go to the country in spring 2027.
Burnham rules out early general election in next 12 months
Source: BBC Politics
Original reporting
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The Guardian
Nigel Farage skips budget in Commons over seating ‘altercation’ concerns
Reform UK leader ‘shocked’ by £10bn pledged to Ukraine and doubles down on cutting tax for crypto investors Budget 2026: key points at a glance Nigel Farage skipped the chancellor’s first budget because he was worried he would get in a “physical altercation” with another MP in a row over seating arrangements. The Reform UK leader was not present in the House of Commons but gave a press conference afterwards in which he said he was “shocked” by the £10bn going to support Ukraine and doubled down on his party’s policies on cutting tax for crypto investors. Continue reading...
The Guardian
Budget briefing: the key questions answered by Heather Stewart and Pippa Crerar
Our economics and political editors dissect John Healey’s maiden budget The Guardian’s economics editor, Heather Stewart, and political editor, Pippa Crerar, assess the chancellor’s budget: what he said, why – and what he left out. Continue reading...
The Guardian
The Guardian view on Labour’s budget: bold ambitions and welcome first steps | Editorial
Banks, landlords and gambling firms will pay more as the chancellor begins building a fairer economy and a more active state in a cost of living crisis John Healey’s first budget was a Rorschach test. Supporters saw dozens of measures offering “ breathing space” to a public worn down by rising prices. Critics admitted to a slew of announcements but countered that each was modest in value . Underlying both views is that the budget was more ambitious on how a state can do more to protect the public than on how much it spends. The chancellor has taken a small step in the right direction – a tricky feat in a turbulent world. But an economy marked by entrenched inequality and more than a decade of stagnation will need a bigger stride. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s “ pretty grim picture ” of living standards exposes the budget’s central weakness: its relief is temporary, while the squ
BBC Politics
Healey unveils £100 for energy bills and bank tax in first Budget
The chancellor targets the cost of living amid global economic turmoil but opposition parties say he has not been bold enough.
The Guardian
Budget 2026: £100 energy payment for millions and rise in bank tax as watchdog warns on stalling living standards – as it happened
OBR says that living standards are forecast to rise by just 1% over the whole post-Covid decade Budget 2026: key points at a glance Martin Lewis said that, when he met John Healey this morning, the chancellor said that, having removed standing charges from gas bills, he would also like to get rid of them from electricity bills. Lewis said: The chancellor said he will be talking to Ofgem about how they get rid of the charge on electricity as well, but that is ‘trickier’ apparently and will take longer. Continue reading...
The Guardian
He promised fresh hope and delivered doom, but Dr Death’s budget succeeds in doing no harm | John Crace
Armed with 98 measures, a rictus grin and a decidedly comedy-free speech, the chancellor at least offered us – and Labour – some breathing space It was as if John Healey was taking the Hippocratic oath. First do no harm. For your first budget, this may be no bad thing: we can all think of plenty of chancellors who have done untold damage. Take a bow George Osborne. It might just have been better if the doctor that Healey had chosen to impersonate was not Dr Death. John can’t help looking like the last man you would want to stop by your hospital bed. Not everyone can have a naturally sunny disposition. His face seems to be carved out of despair. But it would be a big help if, when called upon to make his most important speech of the year, he didn’t reinforce the impression when he opened his mouth. A one-way journey to the slough of despond. Continue reading...