Halloween budget avoids spooking the markets

In the week that saw Rachel Reeves deliver a bumper budget of tax raises and spending increases, setting the tone for years to come and giving the public a much better idea of the narrative this Government wants to convey, here is your Weekend Wire. 

Pump-kin the money in

Rachel Reeves made history this week, as the first woman to ever deliver the budget. After weeks of briefing both the media and various financial institutions about her plans, the majority of her speech was expected. 

The headline rise in employer national insurance contributions from 13.8% to 15% was met with concerns by some industry leaders who warned it would suppress wage growth. But ultimately the rise of NIC for employers has opened up the funding that Britain desperately needs to repair broken public...