Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has accused the social media platform X of neglecting critical discussions on online safety, stating that the company “didn’t even bother to turn up” to recent meetings regarding abuse, intimidation, and doxxing. Alongside her pledge to crack down on these practices, attention is simultaneously shifting toward the economic challenges facing Chancellor John Healey, who will deliver the first budget of Andy Burnham’s government in six weeks.
Speculation is intensifying regarding the fiscal measures expected in the October 28 budget, with reports suggesting a significant deterioration in public finances. According to Steven Swinford and Oliver Wright at the Times, Burnham may need to find approximately £10 billion through either tax increases or spending cuts. This assessment comes as the Office for Budget Responsibility, the UK’s independent fiscal watchdog, enters its crucial ten-day forecast period to evaluate the state of the economy.
The findings from the watchdog will help calculate the cost of debt interest, a key component underpinning the budget. Andy Haldane, the former Bank of England chief economist, emphasized the need for the government to reassure financial markets. Speaking on LBC, Haldane argued that only actions carrying political cost can demonstrate seriousness, noting a shift from cautious optimism to studied skepticism among markets.
Haldane described the government’s fiscal Achilles’ heel as a reluctance or inability to reduce public spending, suggesting the planned low-drama budget has been undermined by recent events. Meanwhile, Arj Singh at the i highlights trade union demands for the budget, including raising the personal income tax allowance, which has remained frozen since 2022 and is effectively dragging more workers into higher tax brackets.
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