Budget 2024 latest: ‘Big and difficult choices’ warns health secretary as tax threshold freeze not ruled out

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that her plan to hike inheritance tax risks punishing middle-class homeowners as the backlash against her Budget intensified.

Ms Reeves is considering an increase on the “death tax”, which raises about £7bn for the Treasury each year, despite the fact it is routinely found to be one of voters’ least favourite measures.

Changes to disability benefit assessments are set to come into force soon as Rachel Reeves reportedly pushes ahead with plans to shave £3 billion from the welfare bill ahead of Labour’s upcoming Budget.

Read all about the proposed plans here:

The Treasury is reportedly considering plans to raise Inheritance Tax at the Budget, as part of an attempt to raise £40bn and plug a hole in the public finances.

According to the BBC, the chancellor is considering multiple changes to the tax, which is charged at 40 per cent on the property, possessions and money of somebody who has died above a £325,000 threshold.

With a new Labour government in power and the first autumn statement on the horizon, we wanted to hear your economic priorities.

When we asked what you thought should be included in the budget, responses from Independent readers varied widely.

Here’s a closer look:

Rachel Reeves is considering raising the tax on vaping products in the upcoming Budget as figures lay bare how many children access them in the UK, The Guardian reports.

The tax on vaping products was originally announced by the Conservatives in March, to come in to force in 2026. It is now understood that Ms Reeves could look to increase this.

Under current plans, the new rates from April 2026 will range from £1-3 per 10ml of liquid, depending on nicotine level.

Experts have long anticipated that Labour will put capital gains tax up in the Budget on 30 October. This is the levy is paid on the profit made when an asset which has increased in value is sold. This includes houses, assets and shares, all paid between 20 and 28 per cent.

The latest reports indicate that Ms Reeves will respond to calls to raise capital gains tax in line with income tax bands – meaning rates of 20 to 40 per cent – but will exempt property from the new rates.

Rachel Reeves is understood to be considering about £3bn of cuts to the welfare bill over the next four years by restricting access to sickness benefits, as the chancellor embarks on a brutal cost-cutting mission to fill a so-called £22 billion black hole left by the Tories.

The chancellor is expected to save the £3bn sum by committing to the previous government’s plans to reform work capability rules.

When we asked what you thought should be included in the budget, responses from Independent readers varied widely.

Many called for a fairer tax system and more direct contributions for public services, while others petitioned for fewer regulations and ‘red tape’ to improve productivity.

Read more:

Sir Keir Starmer is facing a backlash from Angela Rayner and his cabinet over “huge” cuts to departmental spending to be unveiled in Rachel Reeves’ Budget.

The prime minister has received letters from senior ministers raising concerns about the spending cuts after a number spoke out against the measures at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is paid on the profit made when an asset which has increased in value is sold. It is applied to things like the sale of personal possessions worth more than £6,000 (apart from a car), property that’s not the seller’s main home, shares and business assets.

It is charged at 10 or 18 percent for basic rate taxpayers, and 20 or 24 for higher or additional rate earners. There is a tax-free allowance of £3,000.

There are several ways CGT could be changed. In the run-up to the election, the Lib Dems and Greens both said they would rethink the tax bands to be more similar to income tax, raising an estimated £5.2bn a year.