A million more people to pay 40p tax

Raising the tax-free personal allowance has been a signature policy of the government, which claims it has taken almost two million people out of the tax system altogether. However, a further rise from £10,000 to £10,500, due to be announced next week risks a backlash from Tory MPs, the Times reports. They say balancing the cut by sucking in more workers to the higher tax bracket penalises middle-class families.