Politics Inside the Commons: Balancing Markets and Messaging

With just three weeks to go until the Budget, Rachel Reeves gave a surprise speech to reset expectations on who she’s planning to hit with more taxes on November 26. This has fuelled further speculation about whether the government's central manifesto pledge to not raise income tax rates is now doomed. 

Host Miranda Green is joined by FT colleagues Jim Pickard, Sam Fleming and Katie Martin to discuss the chancellor’s options: a pick’n’mix of tax rises or breaking a central pledge to the electorate. What then happens to the Labour government’s credibility, and how are the markets likely to react? Plus: can Reform become fiscally respectable?

Follow Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; Jim @pickardje.bsky.social; and Katie @katie0martin.ft.com

Want more?   

What are Rachel Reeves’ tax options in the Budget? 

Bond markets are winning the Budget stand-off 

Robert Shrimsley: The inescapable logic of Labour’s choices 

Inside Politics: Why Rachel Reeves won’t raise income tax

Paywalled: End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled 

Sign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek analysis. Get 30 days free.

Plus, the FT is hosting a live webinar on November 28 on what the UK Budget will mean for your money. You can put questions to FT journalists Claer Barrett, Stuart Kirk, Tej Parikh and special guest, tax expert Dan Neidle. Get your free pass now at ft.com/budgetwebinar. 

Our email address is politicalfix@ft.com

Political Fix was presented by Miranda Green and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The video engineers are Bianca Wakeman and Andrew Georgiades. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.

Clip from ITV

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.