Tories challenge chancellor to rule out tax rises in budget – UK politics live

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Published: 2026-09-17T08:14:03.657Z • Permanent link

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is facing pressure from Conservative MPs to rule out tax rises in the upcoming budget. The push comes as the UK economy continues to grapple with the fallout from the pandemic and the ongoing impact of Brexit. Sunak is under pressure to balance the books and ensure the government meets its fiscal targets, but he will need to tread carefully to avoid alienating his party's hardline elements.

The opposition Labour Party has seized on the issue, branding Sunak's administration as a 'traditional tax and spend socialist government'. Labour's Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has called on Sunak to rule out any further tax increases, warning that such a move would be a 'betrayal' of the party's manifesto commitments. Meanwhile, Conservative MPs are growing increasingly restless, with some calling for Sunak to take a more aggressive approach to tackling the national debt.

The Bank of England's decision to keep interest rates on hold has also added to the pressure on Sunak. The central bank's move was seen as a surprise by many, and it has raised concerns about the government's ability to manage the economy. As the budget approaches, Sunak will need to demonstrate that he has a clear plan for tackling the national debt and ensuring the UK's economic growth.

The prospect of tax rises in the UK budget has significant implications for the Data Sources domain. Companies such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook are already feeling the pinch of rising tax rates in other countries, and a similar move in the UK could have a major impact on their profitability. Research communities studying the impact of tax policy on economic growth will also be closely watching the budget, as any changes to tax rates could have significant implications for their findings.

The UK's data-intensive industries, such as finance and technology, are also likely to be affected by any tax rises. The government's decision to introduce a new digital services tax, for example, has already sparked concerns among businesses and researchers. Any further tax increases could exacerbate these concerns, leading to a decline in investment and economic growth. As a result, policymakers will need to carefully consider the potential impact of any tax rises on the Data Sources domain.

The UK's budget is just one part of a larger pattern of economic policy-making in Europe. The European Central Bank's decision to keep interest rates on hold, for example, has had a significant impact on the UK economy, and the UK government will need to carefully consider the potential implications of this decision when making its own fiscal decisions. Additionally, the ongoing impact of Brexit continues to pose significant challenges for the UK economy, and policymakers will need to carefully consider the potential implications of any tax rises in this context.