John Healey is announcing his financial update – here are the main points, with political analysis Budget 2026 live – latest updates John Healey starts by saying that his budget is “delivered at a time when global uncertainties and pressures are swirling worldwide and hitting people here at home”.
Healey says he will meet the fiscal rule that day to day spending must be covered by tax receipts and the investment rule that government debt, defined as public sector net financial liabilities, must be falling as a percentage of GDP in the third year of the forecast.
The government will have £15 bn of headroom in 2029-30 and £20 bn in 2030-31, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the government’s forecaster. Government borrowing will be 4. 2% of GDP this year, 3. 4% next year, then 2. 9% and 2. 1% 1. 8% by 2030-31, the OBR says.
Predictions of slowing growth were wrong, Healey says. The OBR says GDP will grow by 1. 2% this year, 1% next year, 1. 6% in 2028, 1. 8% in 2029, 1. 7% in 2030, 1. 6% in 2031. In March the OBR had predicted GDP growth of 1. 1% in 2026, rising to 1. 6% in 2027 and 2028, and dropping to 1.
5% in 2029 and 2030. Government debt is forecast to be 83. 2% of GDP this year, 83. 8% next year, and then falling to 83. 1%, 82. 3% and 81. 7% in the following years. Continue reading...