UK Budget 

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Latest news on the UK Budget, providing comprehensive coverage of Budget 2026, the Autumn Budget, Budget day and the Chancellor's Budget speech, with tax changes, income tax, National Insurance, pensions, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, VAT, energy bills, public spending, OBR forecasts, fiscal rules and Budget reaction, plus updates on Chancellor John Healey, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, HM Treasury and former Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The UK Budget is the United Kingdom government's main annual statement of tax and spending plans, delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the House of Commons. HM Treasury prepares it, and the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) publishes an economic and fiscal forecast alongside it. John Healey, who became Chancellor in July 2026 when Andy Burnham took over as Prime Minister, delivered his first Budget on 28 October 2026.

Chancellor Healey's Budget put energy bill support, tax on savings interest and rental income, a new income tax allowance for pensioners and a higher National Living Wage at the centre of the debate. Every Budget is judged against the fiscal rules, the self-imposed limits on borrowing and debt, and the headroom left against them. When that margin is thin, attention turns to tax rises, spending restraint and borrowing, while critics argue that frozen thresholds amount to a stealth tax and point to a rising overall tax burden. Pre-Budget briefing and leaks add to the pressure: in 2025 the OBR accidentally published its forecast early, which led to an independent review and the resignation of its chair.

Budgets matter far beyond Westminster, shaping daily life across Britain. Households follow what changes for income tax, National Insurance, mortgages, savings, pensions and energy bills, while small businesses, landlords, charities, councils and the NHS watch for funding and business rates. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland look for the knock-on funding for their devolved governments. Budget day has its own ritual, from the Chancellor's red box and the Commons speech to the Opposition reply and the verdicts of economists and business groups.

The office of Chancellor of the Exchequer is centuries old, and Budget statements have shaped British politics for generations. Since 2017 the main Budget has been held in the autumn, with a smaller spring update, and the OBR, created in 2010, scrutinises the numbers. The 2022 mini-Budget, which set off a bond market sell-off and ended a Chancellor's time in office, showed how quickly markets can react. Rachel Reeves's 2025 Budget, which raised taxes and was overshadowed by the OBR leak, set the scene for Healey's first.

Our NewsNow feed on the UK Budget brings together the latest headlines from trusted sources on the Chancellor's announcements, tax changes, spending plans, OBR forecasts and political and business reaction, from Budget 2026 to Budget 2027 and beyond. Whether you are tracking what the Budget means for your household, your business or the wider British economy, this feed keeps you informed as the story develops.