The Day Reeves Signaled Tax Hikes

UK media prominently featured Chancellor Rachel Reeves' pre-Budget speech throughout the day. In the morning, reports focused on her preparing to announce tax rises and potentially break manifesto pledges, with outlets like the Daily Mail, The Telegraph, and The Independent highlighting her emergence to lay the groundwork for these changes. By late morning and early afternoon, Reeves refused to rule out hiking income tax, VAT, or National Insurance, prompting accusations of a "manifesto-smashing Budget" and warnings that "everyone" would face tax increases. The pound also plummeted as a result. The ongoing train stabbing investigation continued to receive coverage, with a hero rail worker named and David Beckham's knighthood also reported.