Tax rises and cuts to public spending lie ahead in Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget

Budget on 30 October

Linus Uhlig
clock • 2 min read

Rachel Reeves is expected to consider tax hikes, snips to public spending and resist pressure to reform benefits in her upcoming budget on 30 October this year.

Following data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today (21 August), Reeves' claims of a gaping £22bn hole in the public finances were vindicated after borrowing figures for the first three months of the 2024-25 financial year came in at £49.8bn, £3.2bn more than the ONS expected. Among the changes that Reeves is said to be mulling, according to reports from The Guardian, are inheritance tax and capital gains tax rises and sticking closely to plans for a 1% increase in public spending despite it leading to cuts to Whitehall departments. Other plans on the table inclu...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Tessa Lee: The invisible cost of poor client data

Tessa Lee: The invisible cost of poor client data

How can you improve data quality?

Tessa Lee
clock 23 July 2026 • 4 min read
Dean Proctor: Hopes and fears for the new PM and cabinet

Dean Proctor: Hopes and fears for the new PM and cabinet

Stability, simplicity and the chance to do things differently

Dean Proctor
clock 23 July 2026 • 5 min read
Should spousal maintenance be abolished? A modern perspective

Should spousal maintenance be abolished? A modern perspective

Making the case for abolition and retention

Amy Walpole and Karen Brennan
clock 22 July 2026 • 4 min read