Autumn Budget 2026

Since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister in late July, his Labour party has laid out a vision for change that involves rebuilding public services and bolstering economic growth.

However, new measures such as cutting VAT on household electricity bills and reducing business rates for certain sectors will need to be funded, raising questions about how the government balances support for households and businesses within its wider spending commitments.

As Mr Burnham’s new Chancellor John Healey prepares to deliver his first Budget on October 28, attention is increasingly turning to how this will be achieved – and whether increased taxation will be the answer the government turns to.

In this article, we examine the tax changes business should look at, and some policy ideas that have already been floated.