Autumn Budget 2025

Autumn Budget 2025

After her 2024 Budget, Rachel Reeves said she “wasn’t coming back for more” tax rises. Yet the Autumn Budget, released on Wednesday 26 November 2025, shows the opposite.

Rachel Reeves has launched a £26 billion tax raid on working people to pay for yet more welfare spending. Instead of backing growth, this Budget expands the welfare state and leaves families wondering how they can afford Labour’s ever-rising taxes.

Working people are being punished because the Government lacks the courage to control costs or reform welfare.

There was a better way: cutting wasteful spending and using savings to reduce taxes. Instead, the Government has chosen the path of a bigger welfare state and a weaker economy.

I want to hear your views on the measures that have been announced. Please take a moment to share your thoughts by answering the questions below.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey and very best wishes

Matthew Barber

 

1. The freezing of income tax thresholds

The government has announced that it will freeze income tax thresholds until 2031, pulling more people into higher tax brackets as wages rise. The higher and additional-rate thresholds have been frozen at £50,270 and £125,140, respectively, until 2030-31.

Do you agree or disagree with this measure?

 

2. Increase in tax on savings

The rates of income tax on savings will increase by two percentage points. From 6 April 2027, the basic rate will be 22% (currently, 20%), the higher rate 42% (40%) and the additional rate 47% (45%).

Do you agree or disagree with this measure?

 

3. The capping of pension relief on salary-sacrifice schemes

The Chancellor announced salary-sacrificed pension contributions above an annual £2,000 threshold will no longer be exempt from National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from April 2029. This despite Labour saying they had ‘no plans’ to change pension tax relief during the General Election campaign last year.

Do you believe this change will affect your ability to save for retirement or make pension saving less attractive?

 

4. Mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028

The government will uprate fuel duty rates in line with the Retail Prices Index from April 2027. And from April 2028, EV drivers will face a 3p-per-mile charge while the rate will be 1.5p for those who have hybrids.

What is your view of the following statement? 
‘These measures will affect my cost of living and ability to travel for work or family responsibilities.’

 

5. Two-child benefit cap

One of the changes made in the budget is that from April 2026 the two-child benefit cap will be removed, meaning those on universal credit and tax credits will receive extra benefits depending on the number of children they have. This will mean in increase in benefits of £5,310 on average for those families affected.

Do you agree with the removal of the two-child benefit cap?

 

6. Please add any further comments you might have on the impact of the Autumn budget in this text box:

 

7. In order to make this survey representative, how did you vote in the 2024 General Election?

 

8. If a General Election were to be called tomorrow, which party would you vote for?

 

9. Tell me about yourself... *

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