Government announces five 'everyday fixes' ahead of Wednesday's budget

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 11:08 · Archive

The UK government has announced five measures including removing tariffs on over 100 products to make day-to-day costs more manageable for families.

Chancellor John Healey has announced five 'everyday fixes' designed to help millions manage day-to-day costs, ahead of Wednesday's budget under prime minister Andy Burnham. The government cited conflict in the Middle East and Europe as driving up household costs, stating it can 'act where we can make a difference'.

The measures include locking in a 55p tax-free mileage rate for the first 10,000 business miles driven, benefiting roughly three million employees and self-employed people including nurses, builders and care workers. The rate will then increase to 35p a mile for miles driven beyond 10,000. The government will also extend parental pay to 150,000 more parents, including two weeks of paternity pay for self-employed fathers who previously missed out on the benefit, at up to £194 a week. Tariffs will be removed on over 100 products to reduce costs.

Burnham stated the changes would help 'a nurse driving for work, a parent spending those precious first weeks with your new baby, or an unpaid carer picking up an extra shift'. He claimed tomorrow's budget will 'go further to give families and businesses the breathing space they need'. The Guardian reports that Conservative critics have dismissed the measures as little more than 'cheaper gherkins' and 'an insult to families'.

How it is being reported

• All 5 'Fixes' Andy Burnham Says Will Make Costs Easier Ahead Of 2026's BudgetChancellor John Healey has unveiled five “everyday fixes” designed to make day-to-day costs more manageable for “millions” of people in the UK. This comes ahead of Wednesday’s Budget , which will be the first under prime minister Andy Burnham. Healey said of the package: “Today’s everyday fixes are just a small part of what we are doing to give families a bit of breathing space.” “Conflict in the Middle East and Europe is hitting families here at home through higher everyday costs,” he continued, adding: “We can’t control global events, but we can act where we can make a difference.” Burnham…HuffPost UK · 27 Oct, 10:53
• Tories dismiss PM’s budget ‘everyday fixes’ as little more than ‘cheaper gherkins’, and ‘an insult to families’ – UK politics liveRemoving tariffs on more than 100 products, including gherkins and baked beans, was one of five measures announced this morning before tomorrow’s budget Good morning. Prime ministers tend to get judged by posterity by the decisions they take on the big issues of the day. But little things matter too in the here and now, often disproportionately, and Andy Burnham , more than his predecessors, has decided that what he calls “everyday fixes” are worth focusing on too. Alexandra Topping wrote a good analysis about the pluses and minuses of this approach last week. But she filed too soon, because…The Guardian · 27 Oct, 09:07

In this story: Andy Burnham · John Healey · United Kingdom · Middle East · Europe

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