They’re highly paid, gaining power and influence — and about to get a reality check on their own personal balance sheets.

RACHEL Reeves’ Budget was last night blasted as a bonanza for benefit claimants — by critics including her own uncle. Terry Smith, 73, joined a long line of detractors after the Chancellor

Reeves admits Budget will mean working people will have to ‘contribute a bit more’ - but denies breaking manifesto pledge

Rachel Reeves' tax-hiking Budget has backfired spectacularly, with bookies slashing odds on her leaving the job in 2026 to just 1/2 after the announcement.

But Sir Keir said those supporting the cap stood for "moral failure and an economic disaster". "This Government is picking up the tab for a failed social experiment which has punished working families and directly pushed hundreds of thousands of children into poverty," he said.

Reeves and Starmer swerved the alternative of a righteous public execution: breaking the letter of their pledge by openly raising tax rates to enable a fast delivery of “change” in public services. This is therefore a defensive budget, and their caution is understandable.

JOBLESS parents hailed Rachel Reeves’ quids-for-kids Budget as “a dream come true” yesterday and vowed to cash in by sparking a baby boom. They spoke of their joy after the Chancellor scrapped the