28th October 2026 | Hudson Contract
The Chancellor of the Exchequer promised today's Budget would give “breathing space” to British households and businesses amid rising costs and global uncertainty.
John Healey’s announcement included a raft of measures to boost housebuilding, including new support for first-time buyers and affordable housing schemes. He also promised housebuilders there would be no more red tape for the rest of this Parliament unless necessary.
Mr Healey said HMRC would recruit an additional 670 compliance officers by 2029-30, on top of the government’s previous commitment to recruit 5,500 to tackle non-compliance in tax. And he added that self-employed fathers would be able to claim state parental allowance from 2029.
Hudson managing director Ian Anfield said the Budget was billed as business friendly, which was in stark contrast to the legislative changes of the last two years.
He said: “Alongside the first wave of Angela Rayner’s Plan to Make Work Pay taking effect, the government has:
- narrowed the gap between youth rates and the National Living Wage
- twice raised the minimum wage by more than inflation
- increased employers’ national insurance and lowered the threshold at which it is paid
- capped business property relief, landing family firms with big tax bills on succession
- extended Right to Work checks to the self-employed
- introduced more than 20 new grounds for employees to sue
- doubled the time limit for tribunal claims
- created a powerful new enforcement body, the Fair Work Agency
- brought in extra reporting requirements under Making Tax Digital
- consulted on equal pay reforms that would extend duties down supply chains and create yet another enforcement body
- launched a consultation that further muddies the waters on employment status.
“Taken together, these measures make it harder to hire young people, push up the cost of every job, hit family firms and wrap employers in red tape, uncertainty and the threat of more state interference.”
