The Independent - October 31, 2024

In this issue

October 31, 2024

Reeves gambles on £40bn tax increase in first Budget

Chancellor insists extra borrowing vital to ‘fix broken Britain'

4 mins

Business bears the burden of borrow-and-spend tactic

Rachel Reeves hopes her historic rise in tax, coupled with spending on the NHS and other investments, will kickstart the economy and get Britain's debt under control.

3 mins

Labour's future now hangs on delivering its promises

The short-term politics of Rachel Reeves’s Budget are clear. Taxes that affect most voters’ pay are not increased. Even the duty on petrol remains unchanged, while the much anticipated extension of the freeze of income tax thresholds was notable by its absence.

2 mins

A strong performance from Reeves, but it's a big gamble

Rachel Reeves played a very difficult hand as well as anyone could, in the circumstances.

4 mins

Rabbits replaced by rabbit punches for working people

The absence of rabbits in Rachel Reeves's Budget box may explain how the chancellor managed to hold it aloft for so long.

3 mins

Sunak showed his anger in his last stand as Tory leader

The Budget reply was Rishi Sunak's last big gig in the House of Commons despite Keir Starmer's joke during Prime Minister's Questions that the Conservatives change leader so often, \"he may be back here\" soon. In those exchanges, Starmer and Sunak were all courtesy and best behaviour. Starmer paid tribute to his defeated opponent’s “decency”; Sunak was softly spoken and bipartisan.

3 mins

Key figures from day when long-held records tumbled

The first Budget by a Labour chancellor in 14 years, and the first to be delivered by a woman, also signalled some major historical milestones for tax and spending.

3 mins

First UK case of potentially deadly mpox strain detected

The first UK case of a potentially deadly strain of the has been detected in London.

2 mins

Abortion clinic protest ban watered down, activists say

Campaigners have hit out at the decision not to automatically ban silent prayer outside abortion clinics when new buffer zones are implemented today. Under the new measures, it will now be illegal to influence, harass or provoke those using or delivering abortion services within a 150-metre radius of the abortion provider. Those who infringe the new rules can be hit with an unlimited fine.

3 mins

Northern Rail reveals it is still communicating via fax

A Northern Rail official has admitted the operator still uses fax machines to communicate with its train crews in an excruciating exchange about the state of its services.

3 mins

New breast cancer therapy drug 'doubles survival time

A new drug therapy for aggressive advanced breast cancer could potentially double the amount of time patients live without the disease progressing, a trial has found.

3 mins

Did the Women's Equality Party achieve its ambition?

Leaders of the Women's Equality Party (WEP) propose to wind up their organisation. A statement issued by its executive committee, endorsed by co-founders Sandi Toksvig and Catherine Mayer, declares: \"The truth is, despite themphenomenal efforts of our team, tireless activists and brilliant members, we can no longer see a way to make this work. Everybody is struggling, particularly women.

4 mins

Is our anti-ageing obsession now totally out of hand?

With women opting for botox injections to keep their hands looking youthful, Ellie Muir examines new beauty standards

4 mins

Reeves takes an extra £2bn in inheritance tax - for now

Inheritance tax (IHT) is an odd one; many worry about it but only a tiny minority ever end up paying it. After this Budget, the minority will grow and the bills they face will rise.

3 mins

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