Chancellor John Healey has unveiled his first Budget, introducing a £100 energy payment for millions, a tax rise on banks, and various other measures. BBC News has been speaking to people on a range of incomes to understand how they feel about their finances and how the government’s fiscal plans affect them.
Drivers and Low-Income Earners React to Fuel Costs
Dave Herbert, a 48-year-old professional driver from Ynysddu earning £30,000 a year, moves cars between showrooms and handles deliveries. He spends about £350 a month on petrol, which is 40% to 50% more than at the start of the year. Commuting a 62-mile round trip into Cardiff, he told BBC News that he dreads filling up his tank and had hoped for a cut to fuel duty. “I’m pretty angry, really. Nothing has been thrown my way,” he said, noting that freezing the main fuel duty rate at 52.95p per litre until the summer still feels like money being taken away.
For 19-year-old Emily Nelson from Swindon, who earns £4,062 a year and has been unable to find a job since completing her A-levels, the Budget brought frustration regarding youth unemployment. While glad the government has a plan, she feels it is difficult having to wait for the outcome of a review before legislation next year. She wants to see more business funding and an extension of the Jobs Guarantee scheme, suggesting eligibility should start after a year instead of 18 months.
Robert Portlock, a 29-year-old from Gateshead earning £22,000, feels the cost-of-living help does not go far enough. Spending £750 a month on car finance, insurance, fuel, and tax for his commute to Newcastle Airport, he stated that the energy allowance and food tariff actions offer minimal relief. He added that new government housing schemes for first-time buyers will not help him because “you can’t save if you don’t have money.”
Middle and Higher Earners on Energy Support and Taxes
Chloe Chin-Saad, a 40-year-old from south London earning £41,000, expressed a more positive view. Her energy bills have risen to about £200 a month, and she has cut back on luxuries while managing health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. However, she told BBC News that cutting gas standing charges and receiving the £100 household energy payment will definitely help. “It was quite a thoughtful Budget,” she said. “I can see, in years to come, light at the end of the tunnel.”
Jonathan Whitwam, a 52-year-old finance worker in Essex earning £150,000, wanted higher earners to be taxed more for redistribution. Although he praised the Budget for reducing energy costs by removing standing charges, he argued that taxes need to rise to fund better public services like roads, hospitals, and schools. He also highlighted the debt burden his two university-going daughters will face, stating that loan interest should be capped below 1%.
Christine Morris, a 78-year-old retiree from Worksop living on a state pension and a small private pension, described her financial situation as “even Stevens” after the Budget. While she believes the £100 energy payment will assist over the winter, she remains unclear whether removing gas standing charges will benefit her if those costs shift to the unit rate. She also expressed skepticism over proposed changes to the triple lock and the timeline for a new national care service.
HM Treasury released further details as citizens continue to assess how the package will impact their households in the months ahead.
