Payments to 20m homes part of package to cut energy bills and ease cost of living crisis, paid for by bank windfall tax ‘A pretty grim picture’: outlook for UK living standards slashed despite Healey’s budget Budget 2026: key points at a glance Budget 2026 live – latest updates John Healey promised to steer Britain through “global economic storms” as he announced an energy giveaway of £100 to 80% of households in England, funded by a smaller than expected windfall tax on banks.

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In his first budget, the chancellor said 20 million households in council tax bands A to D would receive a £100 payment – a measure he said would cost £2.6bn. Continue reading...

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