'High welfare, high tax' and 'Budget goes as billed'

"High welfare, high taxes" reads the headline on the front page of the Times.

Wall-to-wall coverage of the budget dominates the daily newspapers, explaining the tax and spending measures that Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in the House of Commons. “High welfare, high taxes,” the Times’ commentary says, says Reeves will “raise taxes to the highest levels in history.” The article states that “one in four taxpayers, equivalent to 10.6 million people, will be a higher or additional rate taxpayer by 2030.” It includes the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) prediction that “the increases will hit living standards and could ‘limit economic activity'”.

"The budget goes as billed... you pay!" reads the headline on the Metro's front page.

Metro’s approach is “Budget goes as billed.” “You’re paying!” “It will cause workers to pay £26bn more in tax a year after promising no pay rises,” the Chancellor writes. The newspaper describes “a noisemaker who published the Office of Budget Responsibility’s decision on the matter.” [the chancellor’s] Plan 40 minutes too early”. It reports that this led to a “brief stock market crash”, with the Conservatives demanding a “criminal investigation”.

"Reeves Budget breaks tax records" reads the headline on the front page of the Financial Times.

The Financial Times focuses on the reaction to the Budget, citing official forecasts and economists’ views, and underlines in its headline that it “shatters tax records”. “The OBR said a weaker outlook and rising tax burden would squeeze household finances,” the paper says. Meanwhile, he writes, “bond markets welcome the Ministry of Finance’s decision to increase fiscal slack.”

"Spend now, pay later: £26bn tax increase to boost benefits and tackle UK black holes" reads the headline on the front page of i Paper.

While the Chancellor has announced plans to “increase benefits and tackle the UK black hole”, i Paper’s approach is to “spend now, pay later”. The newspaper quotes Reeves as saying that “ordinary people” should “pay a little more” because “1.8 million workers have been dragged into a higher income tax bracket.”

"Millions will pay higher income taxes as Reeves squeezes middle classes" reads the headline on the front page of the Independent.

The Independent’s headline and key takeaway is “Millions will pay higher income tax”. The Chancellor confirmed “43 tax increases to deliver a record increase of £26bn”. Reeves is said to have “scrapped” the two-child benefit limit and added £9bn to welfare spending.

"Reeves springs into action with a grin that says I'll come for you if you work hard and save prudently... Spiteful raids on those who try - to splash billions on Benefits St"reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail describes Reeves’ measures as “vindictive raids on challengers” and refers to what it calls a “Budget mess” and says the chancellor’s message is “If you work hard and save prudently, I’m coming for you.”

"Aid street budget paid by working people," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Express.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s assessment leads the Daily Express: “A budget that does good for the street.” He believes the new measures will hit “hard-working Britons” the most, as the government aims to “increase welfare spending to £406bn by 2030-31” for measures such as removing the two-child benefit cap.

"The Benefits Street Budget: Chancellor beats workers" reads the headline on the Sun's front page.

The Sun headlines what it calls the “charity street” budget and says: “Workers and savers have been duped into funding a bloated welfare bill.” The Conservatives now accuse the Chancellor of failing to deliver on “Labour’s manifesto promises” and say Rachel Reeves “refuses to rule out further punitive rises”.

"How Rach stole Christmas: Chancellor attacked workers as budget leaked"The front page headline of the Daily Star read:

Photoshop or some other image-altering program helped portray Reeves on the Daily Star’s front page as the Christmas Grinch, the grumpy green-skinned fictional character who “stole Christmas” in his self-titled movie. The Star dubs the chancellor the “Rachel Thieves”, accusing her of presenting a Budget that is “all tax, tax, tax and spend, spend, spend”.

"Compassionate chancellor: Budget with Labor heart" read the headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror

“Budget with Labor spirit” is the Daily Mirror’s review, saying it is “made with ordinary people in mind”. The newspaper calls the two-child allowance limit “cruel” and says the policy “condemns 450,000 children to poverty”. He also writes that “Reeves increased gambling taxes and imposed a levy on landlords with properties worth £2 million.”

"A red box full of broken promises" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph.

The Daily Telegraph says Reeves’ financial statement contains “broken promises”, including “a new tax on homes worth more than £2m” and other measures he says will impact “pensions and savings”. According to the newspaper, Reeves gave “reassurances” that “there will be no further increases before the next election” following the “£40bn tax increase” in the last budget.

"I ask everyone to contribute"reads the headline on the Guardian's front page, quoting chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The Guardian leads the way, quoting the chancellor as saying: “I’m asking everyone to contribute”, later explaining that it was “to repair the public finances”. While Reeves says he is “avoiding reckless borrowing and dangerous cuts,” the newspaper notes that the tax share of GDP will reach “an all-time high of 38%” by 2030.