British chancellor Rachel Reeves hikes taxes by £26bn in budget

Ms Reeves' measures will leave 1.7m people paying more, says UK budget watchdog

British chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves delivering her Budget in the House of Commons. Picture: House of Commons/PA 

British chancellor Rachel Reeves hiked taxes by £26bn (€29.6bn) as she faced forecasts of weaker economic growth, faster inflation, and higher unemployment.

Ms Reeves' measures, including a freeze on income tax thresholds which will leave 1.7m people paying more, take the tax burden to an all-time high according to Britain's Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).