Rachel Reeves’ uncle slams ‘disgrace’ Budget | UK | News
Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ uncle, Terry Smith, 73, has joined the chorus of critics slamming Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget, calling it a “disgrace” that “puts skiers ahead of those who are trying.”
The retired construction boss, whose sister Sally is Ms Reeves’ mother, broke family ranks to deliver a harsh verdict on the £30bn tax bombshell.
Speaking to The Sun, Mr Smith did not take a hard line: “This will cost the working class billions of pounds and leave the country worse off. This is the worst budget I’ve ever heard of and I’m 73 so I’ve been around for a while.”
“Rachel is my niece and a lovely person, but the government is completely out of their depth.”
Labor accused of breaching manifesto commitments
Ms Reeves was accused of driving a cart based on the Labor Party’s manifesto not to hit workers. By freezing tax thresholds, millions of people will be lured into paying for the first time or will be lured into higher rates. He also announced a crackdown on salary-sacrifice retirement plans, resulting in thousands of deaths when they retired.
Unemployed parents hail benefit cap removal, vow to have more children
But unemployed parents celebrated Ms Reeves’ decision to scrap the two-child benefit limit, describing it as a “dream come true” and vowing to earn money by having more children. The move has raised concerns about encouraging welfare dependency.
Amid the growing backlash, it has emerged that Labor will seek to appease businesses by scaling back workers’ rights plans, such as allowing unfair dismissal claims, from Day One. Ms Reeves insisted she was going nowhere, saying: “So many people have tried to write me off over the last 16 months and you’re not going to write my obituary today.”
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has delivered a grim verdict, warning that households face a “truly dismal” rise in living standards. Calling for growth-boosting tax reforms, IFS boss Helen Miller said: “This has mostly felt like a government trying to get through its Budget.”
Taxes are at historical highs, growth is down
Ms. Reeves raised taxes to their highest level in history, then warned she could come back for more. In response, the Office for Budget Responsibility reduced growth for next year from 1.9 percent to 1.4 percent and forecast it would still be just 1.5 percent in 2029.
Mr Smith added: “This Budget is there to help people who really don’t want to work. I know people in Manchester who have three or four children and will have more money because the government is rewarding them. If they have another child and get more money, that’s exactly what they’ll do.”
While praising his niece for becoming the first female Chancellor after studying at Oxford, Mr Smith questioned her qualifications and experience in the position, telling The Sun: “I don’t think she has the qualifications or experience to be Chancellor.”
As the fallout from the budget continues, the Chancellor faces an uphill battle to win over critics and convince the public that his tax-rise plans will deliver a brighter future for Britain.
