Labour pledged not to raise taxes directly on “working people,” committing to hold off on increases to National Insurance, VAT, and income tax. However, the budget raised National Insurance contributions for employers and increased capital gains tax, which may indirectly affect workers by driving up business costs.
Primary care appears to be under immense strain, facing financial challenges that threaten its sustainability. The Treasury has compounded these pressures by imposing significant National Insurance increases on GP practices. This comes on top of rising operational costs and an overwhelming demand for services.
Hearing those words—Mr. Lilley, you have cancer—changed everything. You’ll never feel the same again. Even writing them sends a chill down my spine, raising the hair on the back of my neck. It sets my mind racing, replaying the moments of my life, with all its failures and missteps flashing before me.
Budgets aren’t just abstract figures on a screen; they arrive with heavy boots, and those setting them should step carefully, mindful of the lives they impact.
