The UK Government must invest in public services, support economic growth and take action on the cost of living, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said.
Ahead of the UK Budget on Wednesday 26 November, Ms Robison is calling on the Chancellor to:
deliver more funding for Scotland’s public services, infrastructure, and cost of living support – including actions to lower household energy bills
ensure that any major taxation choices do not see Scotland losing out on vital funding
completely reform the Energy Profits Levy and replace it with a sustainable system, to support jobs and investment across Scotland’s energy sector
Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “The UK Budget process has been chaotic and mired in damaging uncertainty. It is disappointing that neither the Prime Minister nor the Chancellor were able to meet with the First Minister in London this week.
“Given the limited time to consider the implications of any major policy changes between the UK Budget and the Scottish Budget on 13 January, this lack of engagement is a particular concern.
“Last year, the UK Government increased employer National Insurance contributions without any consultation, which led to a funding shortfall of around £400 million for public services in Scotland and acts as a tax on jobs. We cannot see a repeat this year.
“We need to see a change of course from the Chancellor – with investment in public services and infrastructure, which supports industry and jobs and delivers support on the cost of living challenges people across Scotland are facing.
“Energy bills in particular are a source of real worry for people this winter. While the UK Government promised to cut energy bills by £300, they have actually risen by almost £200 – so this Budget must provide some relief for households who are struggling.
“The UK Government must also listen to industry concerns around the Energy Profits Levy. This was always supposed to be a temporary measure and it is now affecting investment and jobs in Scotland.
“The UK Government needs to set out how a stable and long-term fiscal regime will be used to treat the offshore energy sector fairly, alongside other parts of the UK economy, and deliver business and investor certainty.
“Scotland must not be left as an afterthought yet again in the UK Budget.”
The 2026-27 Scottish Budget will be published by the Finance Secretary on 13 January.
New code will strengthen protections for players to mitigate against harm
Measures includes strict credit card limits and transparency on free entry routes
Omaze among more than 20 leading operators to sign up to the code
People entering prize draw competitions will benefit from stronger protections and greater transparency, as the Government today unveils a new voluntary code for operators.
Prize draws have exploded in popularity in recent years, with 7.4 million adults playing each year across the UK. The market is worth £1.3 billion annually. However, as these draws also offer a free entry route, they do not currently require a licence under the Gambling Act 2005.
In light of this growth, the Government is determined to ensure that players are able to enjoy prize draws safely. This Code establishes a clear set of industry standards which will help provide a uniform approach across the sector to strengthen player protections, increase transparency and improve accountability of prize draw operators.
The prize draw voluntary code includes:
A £250 monthly cap on credit card entries for prize draws – and complete ban on credit card entries for all instant-win competitions
A commitment to ensure free entry routes are sufficiently publicised and accessible to all
New measures for operators to identify and mitigate against harm, including signposting to support where necessary
The Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators can be viewed in full here.
More than 20 leading operators, including Omaze, Best of the Best and Raffle House have agreed to sign up to the code following extensive consultation between the sector and Government. Signatories will have six months to implement the code’s provisions.
Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross said: “Millions of people enjoy entering prize draw competitions every year, and they should be confident that reasonable protections are in place. Thanks to the introduction of this code, that will be the case.
“I want to thank all of the operators who have already signed up, both for their cooperation in developing the code, and their commitment to following it moving forwards.”
Omaze president James Oakes said: “Omaze is proud to be a founding signatory of the new Code of Conduct. As the UK’s largest prize draw operator, we’ve consistently set industry-leading customer safeguards, whilst raising over £100 million for charities across the country.
“As more and more companies offer prize draws, we welcome DCMS’s introduction of this Code and look forward to all operators committing to the same high standards.”
One of the key decisions that UK Ministers will be making ahead of Rachel Reeves announcing the Budget later this month is what to do about the two-child limit (write Fraser of Allander Institute’s SPENCER THOMPSON and HANNAH RANDOLPH).
This policy, which limits Universal Credit to the first two children in a family, has been widely criticised for driving up child poverty rates. And given that the UK Government has pledged to reduce child poverty, with the publication of its child poverty strategy expected sometime around the Budget, the pressure is on to abolish the policy.
The Scottish Government has committed to mitigate the two-child limit by introducing a new benefit, the Two-Child Limit Payment (TCLP). If the two-child limit is abolished, this payment would no longer be needed, freeing up resource for the Scottish Government. The First Minister has pledged that the savings would be spent on additional measures to tackle child poverty, which he has stated is the Scottish Government’s top priority.
How much would the Scottish Government save?
The Scottish Fiscal Commission has forecast the TCLP will cost £155m in 2026-27. This represents the amount that the Scottish Government will directly save if the two-child limit is abolished.
There would however be some offsetting costs to the Scottish Government, coming through two main channels. First, removing the two-child limit would push more families onto the Benefit Cap – unless this was also abolished – which the Scottish Government mitigates through Discretionary Housing Payments.
And second, it would bring more families onto Universal Credit, namely those whose incomes are just too high to be entitled with the two-child limit in place.
These families would in turn become eligible for devolved benefits that are linked to receipt of Universal Credit, including the Scottish Child Payment, raising spend on these benefits.
We estimate that these spillovers would amount to around £34m in 2026-27.
Whether this cost is met from within the £155m pot or counted separately is a political question. The fiscal context, which will become even more challenging if the UK Government chooses to raise income tax in the rest of the UK, may encourage the former choice. But this would likely be seen by campaigners as penny pinching at a time when urgent, ambitious action is needed to tackle child poverty.
Even with the two-child limit abolished, we would still be a long way off meeting the statutory child poverty targets in 2030 – and these are approaching quickly, with the final Delivery Plan due in March.
How could the savings be spent?
If the spillover costs from the abolition of the two-child limit (£34m) were funded from within the TCLP budget (£155m), that would leave £121m to be spent on other policies. We have modelled the child poverty impacts of five illustrative policy options, all of which we estimate will cost about this much in 2026-27 assuming no changes in behaviour or administrative costs. Clearly, a £155m policy could go further than a £121m one, so this represents a conservative scenario.
Impacts of policy options on relative child poverty after housing costs, 2026-27
Option
Raising the Scottish Child Payment to…
…and…
… would reduce child poverty by about…
1
£35
–
1ppt
2
£31
extending Scottish Child Payment from children under 16 to include dependents aged 16-19
1ppt
3
£34
increasing Best Start Grants and Best Start Foods by the same proportion
1ppt
4
£30
extending universal Free School Meals from P1-P5 to include P6-P7
–
5
£34
increasing the maximum discount on water and sewerage charges from 35% to 100% for families with children
1ppt
Source: FAI modelling using UKMOD. Notes: Dash indicates that impact is too small to report. Scottish Child Payment is currently projected to be about £28 per child per week in 2026/27. Free School Meals count as income for purposes of measuring poverty. Technical details of modelling available on request.
The impacts of these policies would be over and above the impacts of the two-child limit being abolished, which we estimate to be around 1 percentage point in 2026-27. All else equal, each of the options would reduce relative child poverty after housing costs by a further 1 percentage point in 2026-27, representing an additional 10,000 children who would be kept out of poverty.
The exception is Option 4: extending universal Free School Meals to all primary school students would not have a measurable impact on aggregate child poverty levels, even when coupled with an increase to Scottish Child Payment of around £2 per child per week.
Although most of the policies are similar in terms of their aggregate impacts, under the surface there are some important differences:
Option 1 is the simplest, but does involve steepening the so-called ‘cliff edge’, whereby households lose their entire Scottish Child Payment award if their incomes increase beyond the point at which they are entitled to Universal Credit – which could incentivise them to forego opportunities to earn more. This option also increases Scottish Child Payment for recipients who are not in poverty, including those kept out of poverty by the payment at its current rate.
Option 2 is arguably preferrable in these respects, since it extends Scottish Child Payment to families who are not currently eligible while also benefitting many multi-child families who currently are, with the overall cliff edge not steepening as much. However, it does favour older children, when families with young children have been identified as a priority group.
Option 3 targets younger children specifically – Best Start Foods is available until the child turns three, while Best Start Grants are paid to children at various points until the child starts school. This option would also channel some of the TCLP savings into one-off grants as opposed to recurring payments, which may be less distortionary when it comes to work incentives even though they have similar eligibility criteria as the Scottish Child Payment. By the same token, their one-off, targeted nature limits their direct impacts on overall levels of child poverty.
Option 4 removes a cliff edge of sorts in the form of the means test for Free School Meals that applies to children in Primary 6 and 7, who are typically between 10 and 11 years old. Although this policy would benefit some households that lie just above current eligibility, it would primarily benefit those with higher incomes. On the other hand, the distributional impacts would depend on take-up, and there could be wider benefits such as a reduction in stigma.
Finally, Option 5 is unique in featuring a gradient across households – both because discounts on water and sewerage charges are proportionately linked to Council Tax Reduction, which tapers with income, and because these charges themselves vary by council tax band. Other changes to Council Tax Reduction would also be possible, but these will tend to extend entitlement to higher-income households rather than just benefitting current recipients, most of whom already receive a 100% reduction.
These are by no means the only options available, but they highlight some of the factors that the Scottish Government will need to weigh up when reallocating the TCLP budget, along with the potential impacts of doing so, in a scenario where the two-child limit is abolished.
Time will tell
Whether or not that that scenario will transpire remains unclear. It is possible that the UK Government will take an intermediate approach by relaxing the two-child limit in some way without abolishing it entirely – for example by exempting certain groups, moving to a three-child limit, or introducing a taper.
Mitigating the remainder of the limit would cost less than the planned TCLP – meaning there would still be some savings – but may require more time to be designed and implemented. It is also possible that the Budget will include a commitment to eventually abolish the two-child limit, but not in the coming year, meaning the TCLP would be needed temporarily.
For now, all eyes are on Rachel Reeves – but the focus will quickly turn to the Scottish Government. Keep an eye on our website and social media for more analysis of the UK and Scottish Budgets over the next few months!
Home Secretary sets out controversial reforms to the UK’s asylum and returns system
HOME SECRETARY SHABANA MAHMOOD’s STATEMENT TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS YESTERDAY:
I will make a statement about how we restore order and control to our borders. I do so as this Government publishes the most significant reform to our migration system in modern times.
This country will always offer sanctuary to those fleeing danger, but we must also acknowledge that the world has changed and our asylum system has not changed with it.
Our world is a more volatile, and more mobile, place. Huge numbers are on the move. While some are refugees, others are economic migrants seeking to use, and abuse, our asylum system. Even genuine refugees are passing through other safe countries searching for the most attractive place to seek refuge.
The burden that has fallen on this country has been heavy. 400,000 have sought asylum here in the last four years. Over 100,000 people now live in asylum accommodation, and over half of refugees remain on benefits eight years after they have arrived.
To the British public, who foot the bill, the system feels out of control and unfair. It feels that way, because it is. The pace and scale of change has destabilised communities. It is making our country a more divided place.
There will never be a justification for the violence and racism of a minority, but if we fail to deal with this crisis, we will draw more people down a path that starts with anger, and ends in hatred.
I have no doubt about who we really are in this country. We are open, tolerant and generous. But the public rightly expect that we can determine who enters this country, and who must leave.
To maintain the generosity that allows us to provide sanctuary, we must restore order and control.
[Political content redacted]
My predecessor as Home Secretary picked up this [political content redacted] inheritance, and rebuilt the foundations of a collapsed asylum system.
Decision making has been restored, with a backlog now 18% lower than when we entered office. Removals have increased – reaching nearly 50,000 under this Government.
Immigration enforcement has hit record levels, with over 8,000 arrests in the last year.
The Border Security Bill is progressing through parliament, and my predecessor struck a historic agreement with the French, which means small boat arrivals can now be sent back to France.
These are vital steps, but we must go further. Today, we have published “Restoring Order and Control”, a new statement on our asylum policy. Its goals are two-fold: firstly, to reduce illegal arrivals into this country, and secondly, to increase removals of those with no right to be here.
It starts by accepting an uncomfortable truth: while asylum claims fall across Europe, they are rising here, and that is because of the comparative generosity of our asylum offer when compared to so many of our European neighbours.
This generosity is a factor that draws people to these shores, on a path that runs through other safe countries. Nearly 40 percent come on small boats and over perilous channel crossings, but a roughly equal number come here legally, via a visitor, work or study visa, and then go on to claim asylum.
They do so because refugee status is the most generous route into this country. An initial grant lasts five years, which is then converted, almost automatically, into permanent settled status. In other European countries, things are done differently.
In Denmark, refugee status is temporary, and they provide safety and sanctuary until it is possible for a refugee to return home. In recent years, asylum claims have hit a 40-year low, and now, across Europe, countries are tightening their systems in similar ways.
We must act too. We will do so by making refugee status temporary, not permanent. A grant of refugee status will last two and a half years, not five. It will be renewed only if it is impossible for a refugee to return home. Permanent settlement will now come at 20 years, not five.
I know this country welcomes people who contribute. For those who want to stay, and are willing and able to, we will create a new ‘work and study’ visa route, solely for refugees, with a quicker path to permanent settlement.
To encourage refugees into work, we will also consult on removing benefits for those who are able to work but choose not to.
Outside of the most exceptional circumstances, family reunion will not be possible, with a refugee only able to bring family over if they have joined a work and study route, and if qualifying tests are met.
While over 50,000 were granted refugee status in the last year, more than 100,000 claimants and failed asylum seekers remain in taxpayer funded accommodation, and we know that criminal gangs use the prospect of free bed and board to promote their small boat crossings.
We have already announced that we will empty asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament, and we are exploring a number of large military sites as an alternative.
We will now also remove the 2005 legislation that created a “duty” to support asylum seekers, reverting to a legal “power” to do so instead. While we will continue to support those who play by the rules, those who do not – be that through criminality or anti-social behaviour – can have their support removed. We will also remove our duty to support those who have a right to work.
It is right that those who do receive support, pay for it if they can, so those with income or assets will have to contribute to the cost of their stay. This will end the absurdity that we currently experience. Where an asylum seeker receiving £800 each month from his family, and who had recently acquired an Audi, was receiving free housing at the taxpayers’ expense, and the courts judged we could do nothing about it.
These measures are designed to tackle the pull factors that draw people to this country, but reducing the number of arrivals is just half of the story. We must also enforce our rules and remove those who have no right to be here. This will mean restarting removals to countries where they have been paused.
In recent months, we have begun voluntary removal of failed asylum seekers to Syria once again; however, there are still many failed asylum seekers here from Syria, most of whom fled a regime that has since been toppled. Other countries are planning to enforce removals, and we will follow suit. Where a failed asylum seeker cannot be returned home, we will also continue to explore the possibility of return hubs, with negotiations ongoing.
We must remove those who have failed asylum claims, regardless of who they are. Today, we are not removing family groups – even when we know that their home country is perfectly safe. There are, for instance, around 700 Albanian families living in taxpayer-funded accommodation having failed their asylum claims.
This is true despite an existing returns agreement, and that Albania is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights. So, we will now begin the removal of families. Where possible, we will encourage a voluntary return, but where an enforced return is necessary, that is what we will do.
Where the barrier to a return is not the individual, nor the UK Government, but the receiving country, we will take action.
I can announce today that we have told Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Namibia that if they do not comply with international rules and norms we will impose visa penalties on them. And I am sending a wider message here: unless other countries heed this lesson, further sanctions will follow.
Much of the delay in our removals, however, comes from the sclerotic nature of our own system. In March of this year, the appeals backlog stood at 51,000 cases. This Government has already increased judicial sitting days, but reform is required, so we will create a new appeals body, staffed by professional independent adjudicators, and we will ensure there is early legal representation available to advise claimants and ensure their issues are properly considered.
Cases with a low chance of success will be fast-tracked, and claimants will have just one opportunity to claim and one to appeal, ending the merry-go-round of claims and appeals that frustrate so many removals.
While some barriers to removal are the result of process, others are substantive issues related to the law itself. There is no doubt that the expanded interpretation of parts of the European Convention on Human Rights has contributed.
This is particularly true of Article 8: the right to a family life. The courts have adopted an ever-expanding interpretation of this right.
As a result, many people have been allowed to come to this country, when they would otherwise have had no right to, and we have been unable to remove others when the case for doing so seems overwhelming.
This includes cases like an arsonist, sentenced to five years in prison whose deportation was blocked on the grounds that his relationship with his sibling may suffer.
More than half of those detained are now delaying or blocking their removal by raising a last-minute rights claim.
Article 8 is a qualified right: that means we are not prevented from removing individuals or refusing an application to move to the UK if it is “in the public interest”. To narrow Article 8 rights, we will therefore make three important changes, in both domestic law and our immigration rules.
Firstly, we will define what, exactly, a family is – narrowing this down to parents and their children.
Secondly, we will define “the public interest” test so the default becomes a removal or refusal, with Article 8 rights only permissible in the most exceptional circumstances.
Thirdly, we will tighten where Article 8 claims can be heard, ensuring only those who are living in the UK can lodge a claim, rather than their family members overseas, and that all claims are heard first by the Home Office and not in a courtroom.
We will also pursue international reform of a second element of the European Convention: the application of Article 3 – the prohibition on torture and inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment.
We will never return anyone to be tortured in their home country, but the definition of “degrading treatment” has expanded into the realm of the ridiculous.
Today, we have criminals we seek to deport, but discover we cannot because the prisons in their home country have cells that are deemed too small, or even mental health provision that is not as good as our own.
As Article 3 is an absolute right, a public interest test cannot be applied. For that reason, we are seeking reform at the Council of Europe, and we do so alongside international partners who have raised similar concerns. But it is not just international law that binds us.
According to data from 2022, over 40% of those detained for removal claimed they were modern-day slaves. This well-intentioned law is being abused by those who seek to frustrate a legitimate removal.
So, I will bring forward legislation that tightens the Modern Slavery system to ensure that it protects those it was designed for, and not those who seek to abuse it.
Taken together Madam Deputy Speaker, these are significant reforms. They are designed to ensure our asylum system is fit for the modern world, and that we retain public consent for the very idea of providing refuge.
We will always be a country that offers protection to those fleeing peril, just as we did, in recent years, when Ukraine was invaded, when Afghanistan was evacuated, and when we repatriated Hong Kongers.
For that reason, as order and control is restored, we will open new, capped, safe and legal routes into this country. These will make sponsorship the primary means by which we resettle refugees, with voluntary and community organisations given greater involvement, to both receive refugees and support them, working within caps set by Government.
We will also create a new route for displaced students to study in the UK, and another for skilled refugees to work here. Of course, we will always remain flexible to new crises, across the world, as they happen.
I know the British people do not want to close the doors. But until we restore order and control, those who seek to divide us will grow stronger.
It is our job – [political content redacted] – to unite where there is division, so we must now build an asylum system for the world as it is. One that restores order and control. One that opens safe and legal routes to those fleeing danger across the world, and one that sustains our commitment to providing refuge for this generation and those to come.
I know the country we are. We are open, tolerant and generous. We are the greater Britain that those on this side of the House believe in. Not the littler England that some would wish we would become. These reforms are designed to bring unity, where others seek to divide.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I commend this statement to the House.
Campaigning organisation Asylum Matters said: ‘Today’s asylum reforms put the basic principle of refugee protection under threat. They won’t stop irregular migration.
‘But they would make us a country that has given in to extremists and abandoned vital protection principles set up after the horrors of the Second World War.’
Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC has been appointed to lead an independent review of laws on public order and hate crime.
Following the terrorist attack in Manchester on 2 October, the Home Secretary announced an independent review of existing public order and hate crime legislation.
This resulted from concerns around community tensions and the impact of disruptive and intimidating protests and hate crime on the cohesion and safety of society.
The government will always protect the right to lawful protest and free speech, but we will not tolerate individuals or groups who intimidate others, incite hatred, or create disorder.
The review will therefore look at the powers police have to manage protests and the current hate crime laws, including offences for aggravated behaviour and “stirring up” hatred.
It will examine whether existing legislation is effective and proportionate, and whether it protects communities from hate and intimidation.
It will also consider if the law protects free speech and peaceful protest, while also preventing disorder and keeping people safe.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The terrorist attack in Manchester on 2 October shocked the nation and showed how hatred and division can fuel violence. It happened at a time of growing concern about protests and hate crime in this country.
“Our laws must protect the public, while upholding the right to protest and free speech. That is why we have asked Lord Macdonald to lead this review. His experience will ensure it is thorough and independent.
“Lawful protest and free speech are fundamental rights, but we cannot allow them to be abused to spread hate or cause disorder. The law must be fit for purpose and consistently applied.”
This review follows recent changes to the Crime and Policing Bill, which will require police to consider the overall impact of protests in one place before setting conditions on future demonstrations.
Lord Macdonald is the former Director of Public Prosecutions and brings extensive legal expertise and independence to this work.
He will be supported by Owen Weatherill, a senior policing expert who brings operational experience from his role as the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Civil Contingencies and National Mobilisation.
The terms of reference for the review will be confirmed in the coming weeks with the review expected to commence imminently and conclude by February 2026.
‘just one meeting between jobseekers and advisors a year is like trying to fill an ocean with a teaspoon‘
Funding for careers advisors will be reformed, the UK Government has confirmed, following criticism of the current model in a report by a cross-party Committee of MPs.
Westminster’s Work and Pensions Committee’s Creating a new jobs and careers service report said that a combination of poor funding and badly designed targets had led to the service spending too little time with people and focusing too much on low impact interventions.
In its response to the report, the Government said that bringing “careers advice in England in house will end the current incentivised model and enable the development of a more integrated service”.
Careers advice in the UK is devolved, so these changes will not automatically apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Government also agreed with the Committee on the importance of recognising the distinct roles of work coaches and careers advisors. It added that it was looking into a “dedicated training pathway” for advisors in addition to the planned Coaching Academy for work coaches.
MPs on the Committee made their recommendation following fears that the planned Jobcentre-careers service merger would eliminate the distinction between Work Coaches and Careers Advisors, which they thought would reduce the effectiveness of the service.
The DWP also committed to providing certainty to staff at the National Careers Service by publishing a transition plan in the next 6 months. Since publication of the report, the Government has moved to bring the contracts for careers advisors in-house, sparking concerns among advisors over what will happen when their contracts run out on 30 September 2026.
Committee Chair, Debbie Abrahams said, “We welcome the Government’s recognition that the careers service funding model was broken and that it must be reformed.
“Budgeting, as it does now, for just one meeting between jobseekers and advisors a year is like trying to fill an ocean with a teaspoon.
“The job is about finding out enough about people, their ambitions and interests, their skills, the barriers they face, what drives them, their needs, in order for them to be effective. A new, less exclusive, model would help meet the goals of Government and get people into work that suits them; benefitting jobseekers, employers and ultimately, the economy.
“The recent brief shake-up will help. Giving the DWP sole responsibility over the adult skills brief, instead of sharing with the Department for Education, should help to reduce the incoherent patchwork of services that are available. And bringing the careers service in house, rather than outsourcing, will in time provide clearer lines of accountability, and greater efficiency.
“But we have to recognise that pressing on with little detail on what will happen after current contracts end in September 2026 has caused significant worry among careers advisors. Certainty on this could be the solid foundation that ensures the new system gets off to the best start.
“So, the Government really needs to crack on with fleshing out the detail of the service from 2027 to boost the confidence of advisors and in the new system.”
Social Justice Secretary urges Chancellor to remove two-child limit and benefit cap
Ahead of a series of meetings in London today with child poverty charities, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has urged the UK Government to take action to tackle child poverty in its forthcoming Budget, including immediately scrapping the two-child limit and the benefit cap.
Ms Somerville has called on the UK Government to fully scrap the two-child limit on benefits, which pulls 109 children into poverty every day, while also removing the benefit cap at the same time, which limits the total amount of benefit a person can receive.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the Scottish Government plans to mitigate the two-child limit from March next year, through a new Two-Child Limit Payment worth £292.81 a month for eligible recipients. Estimates show this will keep 20,000 children out of relative poverty next year.
The Scottish Government is spending £100 million this financial year, through the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme, to mitigate the benefits cap as far as possible within devolved powers.
Ms Somerville said: “Once again, I am making it clear that the UK Government must fully scrap the two-child limit and the benefit cap as soon as possible. These policies should be confined to the darkest days of austerity and the UK Budget must bring this period to an end.
“In a country as rich as ours, no child should have to live in poverty. The UK social security system is supposed to be there to ensure a basic standard of living, reduce poverty and inequality and help people through the toughest of times.
“That is why the Scottish Government has made bold decisions – like introducing the Scottish Child Payment and investing in our devolved social security system. Child poverty rates are now lower in Scotland than the rest of the UK and relative child poverty rates in Scotland are at their lowest level in almost a decade.
“I call on the Chancellor to follow our example by scrapping the caps, match the Scottish Child Payment and introduce an essentials guarantee, which would ensure Universal Credit actually covers the costs of life’s essentials, such as food and fuel.”
There have been strong indications that the Chancellor will indeed scrap the Two Child Linit when she announces her Budget later this month.
UK government is launching its new Veterans Strategy to transform government support for our heroes and recognise their invaluable contribution
£27m in government funding goes live for local bids, turbocharging network of recognised VALOUR centres.
First Veterans Strategy in seven years will transform government support for our heroes and recognise their invaluable contribution across the country.
Developed alongside the Strategic Defence Review and the Armed Forces Covenant, the strategy commits new £12m fund for veteran housing.
Over 1.8 million veterans across the UK will benefit from a new network of local support centres, as the MOD launches a transformational Veterans Strategy to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve and have served.
The new centres will help improve access to support services such as health, housing and employment, and may extend to finance, wellbeing, welfare and integration into society.
The local centres will fundamentally transform how assistance is provided, offering the first coordinated national network of support centres. They will connect to a new VALOUR headquarters within the Ministry of Defence, with regional centres and field officers working in communities.
On top of the £50m VALOUR fund, the Government is also committing an additional £12m to vital homelessness services through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme.
Op FORTITUDE will also be extended, putting the service that has already housed over 1,000 veterans on a sustainable footing.
These programmes will deliver three years of support services across the UK for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, fulfilling the Prime Minister’s pledge that homes will be there for heroes.
This strategy, like the Armed Forces Covenant, applies equally across the UK, with its vision, themes and priority outcomes a shared endeavour between UK and devolved governments. The strategy has benefitted from the inputs of veterans themselves and from organisations in all parts of the UK – across the public, private and third sector – that work with veterans and the wider Armed Forces community.
As part of the government’s Plan for Change, the new strategy recognises veterans as national assets, whose unique skills strengthen communities, boost the economy and enhance national security. The strategy is built on three priorities: celebrating those who have served, harnessing veterans’ skills, and ensuring effective support for those who need it.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “The first duty of government is to keep our country safe, and that is only possible through the extraordinary men and women in our Armed Forces.
“Our nation owes a duty to those who have served, and this new Strategy recognises veterans as one of our greatest assets.
“Today’s announcements will boost support for veterans across the UK, from better healthcare to housing to jobs. Our message to veterans and the Armed Forces community is simple: we are on your side.”
Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones MP said: “Our new Veterans Strategy fundamentally resets how we celebrate and support the remarkable men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, whilst harnessing their invaluable talent and skills across society.
“At the core of the strategy is VALOUR – backed by £50 million in funding. From today, organisations can bid for the first tranche of this funding to become part of a network of support centres across the country for our heroes – ensuring easier access to the assistance they need, when and where they need it.
“This strategy has been informed by those who it seeks to benefit: veterans, and we remain committed to stand by those who have stood by us.”
VALOUR – which launched earlier this year and is backed by £50m in total – will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is truly data driven.
VALOUR-recognised support centres will open from spring 2026, offering veterans with a single contact point for support needs.
The announcement comes after the government announced a commitment to support World War Two veterans to travel to overseas commemorative events and expanded the eligibility for the Nuclear Test Medal.
Developed alongside the Strategic Defence Review and the Armed Forces Covenant, the new strategy forms part of the Government’s Plan for Change commitment to strong national security foundations.
Nick Pope, Chair of Cobseo, the Confederation of Service Charities, said: “Cobseo welcomes the publication of this Veterans’ Strategy and the government’s ongoing commitment to enabling a thriving Armed Forces Community that is both valued and supported by society.
“There are two key building blocks to this; the Armed Forces Covenant; and the Veterans Strategy, which resets how we engage with the Armed Forces Community to support, to contribute, and to celebrate their endeavours.
“The Armed Forces charity sector has a key role to play in delivering this and ensuring that all Cobseo members continue to provide their brilliant support to their beneficiary communities.”
Government takes a major step forward with Bill to set up Great British Railways, owned by the public, for the public.
GBR will put passengers before profits with a strengthened passenger watchdog and ultimately a one-stop-shop app for simpler ticketing and customer services.
Measures unveiled to improve rail accessibility, including expanding disabled persons railcard eligibility, rolling out more Welcome Points.
Landmark legislation that will transform Britain’s railways was introduced yesterday (5 November), paving the way for a simpler, more reliable network which puts passengers before profits.
The Railways Bill will create Great British Railways (GBR) – a new publicly owned company which will bring together the management of passenger services and rail infrastructure.
GBR will be accountable to passengers, freight customers and taxpayers and will drive a relentless focus on responding to their needs. Responsible for co-ordinating the whole network: from track and train, to cost and revenue – GBR will deliver lasting change.
GBR, which will be headquartered in Derby, will create a simpler, more unified railway that delivers easier journeys and offers better value for money. This will include a new one-stop-shop app where passengers can check train times and book tickets.
The Railways Bill will also establish a strengthened passenger watchdog which will be a powerful new voice to investigate poor service and advocate for improvements.
Rail reform is a cornerstone of the Government’s Plan for Change, with GBR working hand in hand with the Government’s missions to drive growth and opportunity, such as housebuilding, creating jobs and boosting productivity.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Britain deserves a railway that is fit for the future – one that rebuilds the trust of its passengers, regenerates its communities and restores reliability and value for money.
“The introduction of this legislation is a major step towards a rail network that supports Britain’s businesses and delivers for the travelling public – paving the way for economic growth and access to opportunity across the country.”
Passengers are currently at the mercy of a complex rail system of over 17 different organisations, resulting in complex fares, delayed upgrades, disjointed timetables, and an industry with no single authority in charge.
The Railways Bill builds on the Government’s public ownership programme, which is already driving improved services. Southeastern and LNER are among the top five operators nationally for lowest cancellation rates.
South Western Railway has more than tripled the number of new trains in service since entering public ownership, offering more comfortable journeys, and passengers can now use tickets across publicly owned operators during cancellations – at no extra cost.
Major changes in the Bill include:
A strengthened Passenger Watchdog which will act as passengers’ champion and create a better, more inclusive railway for all. The watchdog will have powers to investigate poor service and demand improvements, as well as ensuring passengers have a clear and accessible service to escalate their complaints.
Fare and Ticketing reform – the Railways Bill will empower GBR to bring fares and ticketing into the 21st century. Passengers will ultimately be able to purchase tickets through a new GBR website and app, replacing 14 existing operator ticketing platforms. Tickets will be available to purchase at station ticket offices, via ticket vending machines and onboard trains, to ensure all passengers can purchase a ticket with ease and travel with confidence. GBR will also build on the expansion of successful Pay As You Go and fares trials, making travel more flexible and simpler.
Better business planning – the Railways Bill will place a duty on GBR to grow rail freight, meaning freight operators will benefit from a longer-term strategic approach to planning, including a new capacity allocation and timetabling process. This longer-term certainty for businesses will give critical stability to the railway’s supply chain and increase investor confidence and support the growth of the sector.
Localised decision making – the Railways Bill will give the Devolved Governments and England’s mayors a new role and a bigger say in how the railway is run in their patch to improve local connectivity.
We're building a railway that's fit for Britain's future – owned by the public, for the public.
Today, we're introducing the Railways Bill into @HouseofCommons to set up Great British Railways and deliver a simpler, more reliable rail network. pic.twitter.com/5udm0q6nra
In a further move to improve services for all passengers, the UK Government will today publish the Accessibility Roadmap, which provides immediate actions to improve services for disabled passengers in the lead up to GBR’s establishment.
Commitments in the Roadmap include expanded eligibility criteria for the Disabled Persons Railcard, planning for the wider rollout of Welcome Points across the network, more consistent training for staff, and improvements on installing and maintaining key infrastructure, like lifts and escalators so that people can travel with confidence.
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said: “I very much welcome the introduction of the UK Railways Bill which will improve rail services and deliver a more integrated, accountable, and passenger-focused railway across the UK.
“It is also a significant step forward in our collaborative approach to rail reform, and I am confident that our continued joint working with the UK Government will ensure the delivery of a modern, integrated railway that works for passengers in Wales and throughout the United Kingdom.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The introduction of the Railways Bill to Parliament marks a pivotal moment for rail reform across the country.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make trains more reliable and tickets easier to use, with clearer accountability for passengers and greater confidence in every journey.
“In Greater Manchester, we’re already making progress by working with the government and the rail industry to connect trains, buses, trams, and cycling routes as part of the next phase of the Bee Network.
“We’ll keep working closely with partners to shape the new legislation, ensuring Mayors and city regions have a key statutory role in joining up the railways in their areas, making them work for everyone and unlocking rail as an engine of growth across the country.”
Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “An accessible, affordable and reliable rail network integrated with the wider transport system is key to delivering sustainable economic growth and improving regional productivity.
“Today marks another important step on the road to realising this vision and delivering a railway that works for passengers, freight operators and the country as a whole.
“We look forward to working with the Government, MPs and the rail industry over the coming months to make sure this Bill provides the right foundation for a reformed railway.”
Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Businesses welcome plans for a more joined up rail system which gives regions a stronger voice in shaping services.
“An efficient rail network is crucial to unlock opportunities for investment, jobs and growth across the country.
“Great British Rail must deliver the certainty and connectivity that businesses are desperate for – with the needs of passengers and freight customers central to future decision making.”
TRANSPORT SECRETARY HEIDI ALEXANDER’s STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT
Today (5 November 2025) I have published our consultation response: A Railway Fit for Britain’s Future and introduced the Railways Bill to Parliament.
Up and down the country and across all political parties, the consensus is clear: our railways need urgent reform. Passengers feel abandoned – forced to treat delays, cancellations and poor value for money as unavoidable facts of daily life. Meanwhile, a broken, outdated model is holding the railway back, stopping it from unlocking the growth our country needs and delivering the efficiency taxpayers rightly expect.
The need for change was laid bare in the thousands of responses to our recent consultation. The British public were unequivocal: we need an affordable, reliable railway that passengers can count on and that makes the most of every taxpayer pound invested. One that makes education, healthcare, public services and even just the support of family and friends more accessible to those who need them. A railway that backs our businesses and helps our communities thrive. A railway fit for Britain’s future.
So today I am bringing forward legislation that will pave the way for the biggest transformation of Britain’s railways in 30 years. Informed by the consultation feedback, the Railways Bill will give us the tools we need to create Great British Railways (GBR) – a new, publicly owned company to oversee the management of track and train.
Today’s passengers are at the mercy of a complex system of poorly coordinated organisations, all incentivised to look inward and outsource blame. GBR will put an end to this by bringing together the work of 17 different organisations – from train operators to public bodies, government, and the regulator – eliminating unnecessary duplication and creating a single organisation responsible for operating, maintaining and improving our railways.
Unencumbered by the bureaucracy and perverse incentives of the old system, GBR will have the tools and authority it needs to make the railway deliver for passengers, freight and taxpayers – and to be held unambiguously accountable for doing so. It will be the ‘directing mind’ for the network, responsible for improving performance and taking long-term decisions across the whole system to unlock growth, decarbonise transport, enable the construction of new homes and support a thriving supply chain. GBR will be underpinned by a clear set of statutory duties – including those relating to passengers and accessibility, rail freight and social and economic benefits – as well as an overarching strategic direction set by the government. This approach will enable GBR to make decisions with a whole-system view, optimising network use and utilising opportunities such as open access to make the most of constrained capacity.
GBR will create a new culture that prioritises passengers and their experience. It will simplify fares and ticketing, setting more transparent fares in line with parameters set by ministers. It will consolidate the ticket retailing operations of 14 separate train companies – each with their own websites and apps – into a single, straightforward GBR ticketing platform. A new GBR app and website will make it easy to purchase tickets, check train times, and access a range of support all in one place. Together, this will make it easier for passengers to understand the fares system, to know they are buying the right ticket and to be confident they are getting the best value.
The bill will pave the way for creating a powerful voice for passengers, with a passenger watchdog responsible for setting tough standards and, where these are not met, investigating issues and resolving disputes. It will protect and advocate for all passengers’ interests and rights, offer advice and independently monitor passenger experience, reporting on its findings publicly and transparently.
GBR will work in partnership with devolved leaders to create a national railway that serves local needs. Through a new statutory role for devolved leaders, national and local strategies will be factored into GBR decision-making ensuring communities across Britain feel the benefits of our reforms. England’s mayors will have a greater say in how the railways will run, enabling genuine local influence and laying the foundations for integrated public transport that meets the needs of the communities it serves.
Devolved ministers in Scotland and Wales will also have an enhanced role, with bespoke arrangements to ensure GBR is able to deliver an integrated national network across Great Britain.
I will publish a joint memorandum of understanding with Welsh ministers setting out how our continued collaboration will drive improvements to our railways across Wales and Borders.
Scottish ministers have a similarly strong settlement reflecting their role as funder of the railway, including powers of direction and guidance over GBR. This will be set out in a joint memorandum of understanding that will outline how GBR will work with Scottish ministers to maximise local opportunities and deliver for communities.
Whilst this bill will unlock the most significant set of reforms our railway has seen in a generation, we are not waiting for the creation of GBR to drive improvements across the rail network.
We have accelerated the roll out of pay-as-you-go and we are ushering in a new era of transparency with latest performance data now available at over 1,700 stations. We recognise that disabled passengers’ experience on today’s railway too often falls short. That is why today I have also published an Accessibility roadmap: a transitional plan focused on delivering immediate improvements while laying the foundations for longer-term transformation led by GBR.
This bill enters Parliament 200 years on from the birth of the modern railway. The first passenger train between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton in 1825 marked the start of a technological revolution that would change the course of world history and trigger an explosion of growth and prosperity across the country.
As this government continues its mission to deliver a decade of national renewal, the plans I am setting out today will ensure the railway is fit to drive economic growth in the 21st century as it has done in the past.
TODAY (Tuesday 4 November), the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will ‘vow to take the fair choices to deliver strong foundations for our economy and secure our country’s future’.
In a speech delivered in Downing Street this morning, the Chancellor will address the country as she lays out the economic choices she will take at the Budget later this month to cut hospital waiting lists, cut the national debt and cut the cost of living.
The Chancellor is expected to say: “Later this month, I will deliver my second Budget as Chancellor.
“At that Budget, I will make the choices necessary to deliver strong foundations for our economy – for this year, and years to come.
“It will be a budget led by this government’s values, of fairness and opportunity and focused squarely on the priorities of the British people:
“Protecting our NHS, reducing our national debt and improving the cost of living.
“You will all have heard a lot of speculation about the choices I will make.
“I understand that – these are important choices that will shape our economy for years to come.
“But it is important that people understand the circumstances we are facing, the principles guiding my choices – and why I believe they will be the right choices for the country.“
Chancellor’s ‘Scene Setter’ speech ahead of Budget 2025
Later this month, I will deliver my second Budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
At that Budget, I will make the choices necessary to deliver strong foundations for our economy.
My Budget led by this government’s values of fairness and opportunity…
…and focused entirely on the priorities of the British people:
Protecting our NHS,
reducing our national debt,
and improving the cost of living.
There is a lot of speculation about the choices that I will make.
I understand that – these are the important choices that will shape the future of our country for years to come
I want people to understand the circumstances we are facing,
the principles guiding my choices,
and why I believe they will be the right choices for our country.
We are a country with considerable economic strengths:
An open, trading economy,
A global hub for cutting-edge industries from AI to Biotech,
With world-leading universities and scientific institutions,
and a talented and a committed workforce.
[political redaction]
At the Budget last year, I fixed the foundations:
[political redaction]
I put the public finances back on a firm footing,
Provided an urgent cash injection into our faltering public services,
And began rebuilding our economy.
But since that Budget,
The world has thrown even more challenges our way.
The continual threat of tariffs has dragged on global confidence –
Deterring business investment, and dampening growth.
Inflation has been too slow to come down as supply chains continue to be volatile –
Meaning that the cost of everyday essentials remains too high.
And the cost of government borrowing has increased around the world –
A shift that Britain – [political redaction] – has been particularly exposed to.
And in an uncertain world, we also face pressure to increase our defence spending – and it is right that we do that…
…protecting ourselves from hostile actors and supporting our allies.
And there are other pressures on the public finances.
The Prime Minister, the Secretary of Work and Pensions and this whole government are committed to reforming our welfare state…
…so that it is not a system that counts the cost of failure…
…but one that invests in success and protects those who need it most.
There is nothing progressive about refusing to reform a system that is leaving one in eight young people out of education or employment.
So, we have begun the job of creating a system that protects people who cannot work and empowers those who can.
And there are longer-term challenges too:
That feeling, shared by millions of people across the country that the economy isn’t working as it should.
Alongside the Budget this month,
The Office for Budget Responsibility – the UK’s public finance watchdog – will set out the conclusions of their review of the supply side of the UK economy.
I will not pre-empt those conclusions…
…but it is already clear that the productivity performance [political redaction] is weaker than previously thought.
A less productive economy is one that produces less output per hour worked.
That has consequences for working people – for their jobs and for their wages…
…and it has consequences for the public finances too, in lower tax receipts.
It’s not a question of how hard people work –
Poor productivity means we are putting in more and getting less out.
It means too many businesses and workers don’t have the tools they need:
Trains that run on time,
Broadband that’s fast and reliable,
Access to new technologies,
Or proper training so people have the right skills for the job.
For a long time, commentators have talked about Britain’s ‘productivity puzzle’.
But it’s not a puzzle.
The causes of our economic underperformance are well understood.
The chronic stop-go cycle of public investment has left us with roads full of potholes, high energy prices and unstable conditions for vital business investment in skills and technology…
…and long-term failure to invest in our regions has built growth on a narrow base – with some parts of the country forging ahead while others fall behind.
[political redaction]
All this meant that when the pandemic arrived our country was under-prepared…
…our public services weakened and our economy fragile.
And we finished the pandemic with higher death rates and higher debt than our peers.
This isn’t about relitigating old choices.
It’s about being honest with people about the consequences those choices have had.
It is my job to deal with the world as we find it…
…not the world as I would wish it to be.
Not to commentate or speculate,
But to act.
In my Mais lecture last year, I set out our plan for solving our productivity problem through a programme of stability, investment and reform,
And when I became Chancellor, I began to put that plan into action.
Stabilising our public finances –
Making the tax and spending decisions to get debt down and to fund our public services sustainably.
Changing the fiscal rules to increase public investment by £120bn over the course of this Parliament…
…and crowding in private investment too…
For road and for rail, for housing and nuclear power.
And reforming our economy:
Ripping up the planning rules so we can build housing and infrastructure across the country…
Bringing the brightest and best to our shores with a new visa regime…
And signing trade deals with the EU, the US and India to help our businesses export around the world.
We have begun to see the results of those plans…
…in falling interest rates and falling NHS waiting lists…
…in rising wages and rising investment.
But I know that real progress takes time.
Our growth was the fastest in the G7 in the first half of this year – but I don’t expect anyone to be satisfied with growth of 1%.
I’m not – and I know there is more to do.
The first part of our planning reforms will add an additional £6.8bn to the size of our economy in the next five years,
But the next part – our planning bill – must complete its passage through Parliament before it can make a difference.
Interest rates, which rose from 0.1% to 5.25% in the last Parliament, have now been cut five times…
…but at 4% they are still a constraint on business borrowing and a burden on family finances.
[political redaction]
…and the choices I make in the Budget this month will be focused on getting inflation falling…
…and creating the conditions for interest rate cuts to support economic growth and improve the cost of living.
I understand the urge for easy answers.
[political redaction]
The UK’s national debt now stands at £2.9trillion:
Equivalent to 95% of GDP.
[political redaction] our borrowing costs were in the middle of the pack compared to other advanced economies…
…but now, we have the highest borrowing costs of any G7 country.
Today, 1 in every £10 of taxpayer’s money is spent on debt interest.
Not on paying that debt down…
…but just paying the interest to our creditors.
At the Budget last year, I changed the fiscal rules to strike a careful balance:
To invest more in capital alongside a credible plan to grow our economy and bring debt down within this Parliament.
That was the right decision to break the cycle of low productivity and low growth.
But that additional investment can only be delivered because markets know that my commitment to the fiscal rules is ironclad.
Some people say we should just sidestep those rules…
…that we can borrow more without consequences by simply reclassifying areas like defence or education.
But no accounting trick can change the basic fact that government debt is sold on financial markets.
There are limits on the price that banks, hedge funds and pension funds are willing to pay for our debt…
…and we are competing constantly with other countries also selling debt .
The more we try and sell, the more it will cost us.
It is important that everyone – the public and politicians – understands that reality.
The less we spend on debt interest, the more we can spend on the priorities of working people…
…our NHS, our schools, our national security…
…the public services essential to a decent society and a strong economy.
At the Budget last year, I provided our public services with a vital cash injection…
…and I’m proud of that choice:
Proud that it [political redaction] that is providing record investment in our NHS getting waiting lists down by over 200,000 since the election,
Proud that it [political redaction] that is investing in our children through the rollout of free breakfast clubs and free school meals,
And proud that it [political redaction] that is funding our armed forces and remains resolute in our NATO commitments.
The alternative is to row back on those investments:
[political redaction]
Stifling our economic growth,
And weakening Britain’s foundations in an unstable world.
I will not repeat those mistakes.
But if we want strong public services in the decades to come, then we must recognise that productivity and efficiency are not only a challenge for business, but they are a challenge for our public sector too.
At the Spending Review I announced £14bn of efficiencies per year to be delivered by 2029:
Cutting government spend on consultancies,
Getting rid of bureaucratic quangos and regulators,
And driving efficiency through AI and digital technologies.
But I know that there is more to do,
In the Budget and beyond, I will continue to drive for more productive and more efficient public services, right across government…
…making savings and rooting out waste wherever I find it.
[political redaction]
When I was appointed Chancellor, people put their faith in me to take our country forward…
…not to be swayed by political convenience…
…not to always do what is popular, but to do what is right.
At the Budget, I will continue to deliver on the priorities of the British people:
Cutting NHS waiting lists, cutting the national debt and cutting the cost of living.
And in the context of the long-term challenges on our productivity and heightened global uncertainty…
…any Chancellor of any party would be standing here today, facing the choices that I face.
The difference is in the priorities – and the values – that will guide those choices:
Mine will be a Budget for growth with fairness at its heart…
…and a Budget that supports businesses – to create jobs and to innovate.
As I take my decisions on both tax and spend…
…I will do what is necessary to protect families from high inflation and interest rates…
…to protect our public services from a return to austerity…
…and to ensure that the economy that we hand down to future generations is secure, with debt under control.
If we are to build the future of Britain together, we will all have to contribute to that effort…
…each of us must do our bit for the security of our country and the brightness of its future.
There is a reward for getting these decisions right,
To build more resilient public finances – with the headroom to withstand global turbulence…
…giving business the confidence to invest and leaving government freer to act when the situation calls for it,
To continue to invest in our infrastructure and our industry to build a stronger economy,
And to get the cost of borrowing down – spending less on debt interest, and more on schools and our health service.
The Office for Budget Responsibility will make their forecasts at the end of this month…
…but let’s be clear about what forecasts are:
They are not visions of the future…
…they are a look in the rear-view mirror.
The OBR rightly make their predictions based on the data that has gone before…
…but I do not believe that our past has to determine our future…
…or that a stuttering economy, poor productivity and falling living standards is somehow Britain’s destiny.
A brighter future is within our grasp.
We were elected to break with the cycle of decline…
…and this government is determined to see that through.
So we will go further and faster, on planning, on the industrial strategy, on reforming to regulation…
…all to deliver growth throughout our economy, in all parts of our country.
We will bear down on waiting lists, on the cost of living, and on the national debt which compound these challenges…
…and when that requires hard choices, we will act – guided by the interests of working people.
We were elected on a commitment to put country before party; the national interest before political calculation…
…and, whatever challenges come our way – whatever challenges come my way – we will not be swayed from that.
At the Budget this year, I will continue to build the strong foundations to secure Britain’s future.
For a fairer Britain
A more prosperous Britain
A Britain with an economy that works for everyone.
