Overview
- Sky News and the Daily Mail report that Rachel Reeves has asked officials to protect the bottom two-thirds of earners, effectively setting the pledge’s cutoff near £46,000.
- Commentary notes the reported definition would exclude many mid-earning professionals, with roles such as teachers, nurses and police sergeants potentially facing higher taxes.
- The Independent reports an internal split between ministers who favour openly raising income tax and those seeking to avoid breaching manifesto language.
- Labour’s manifesto caps corporation tax at 25%, narrowing revenue options and increasing reliance on threshold freezes or other indirect measures.
- The Daily Mail cites projections of about 3.5 million more higher‑rate taxpayers by 2028/29 from frozen bands and reports unconfirmed options under discussion, including changes to pension tax relief and a departure charge for wealthy leavers.