Hunt to Announce Tougher Benefit Sanctions and Higher Wages Ahead of Financial Statement

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will confirm harsher benefits sanctions while raising living wage above £11/hr
Hunt's speech comes before his autumn financial statement, amid pressure from Tories to cut taxes
Government eyeing welfare changes to cut spending and encourage people back to work
Hunt to accept recommendation to raise national living wage to £11/hr from April 2024
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan expected to ban mobile phones from classrooms to reduce distractions

sky.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/3/2023

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confident 'inflation is coming down' and on track to be halved this year

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is confident that his plan to reduce inflation in the UK is working and will alleviate financial strain on households, despite criticism from experts and opposition politicians. He believes that sticking to the plan and reducing inflation will ease the pressure on families and businesses and lead to economic growth. However, some Conservative colleagues may disagree with his focus on public sector productivity rather than tax cuts. Labour's shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, criticized Hunt for being out of touch with the economic realities faced by families and called for investment in the economy to benefit working people.

9/11/2023

UK Pre-Election Tax Cuts Unlikely as Inflation Concerns Limit Options for Fiscal Stimulus

Jeremy Hunt has warned that high inflation rates in Britain will prevent tax cuts this autumn, as the Bank of England signals another rate rise to ease cost of living pressures. Hunt cautions against overstimulating the economy and pushing up prices by pumping extra money into consumers' pockets.

10/1/2023

Hunt to Announce Minimum Wage Increase to £11 per Hour, Resists Tax Cut Demands

British finance minister Jeremy Hunt will announce a rise in the minimum wage and ignore calls for tax cuts in his annual Conservative party conference speech.

10/1/2023

Hunt to Boost Minimum Wage and Crack Down on Jobless Benefits

The UK government plans to increase the national living wage to over £11 an hour, benefiting two million low-paid workers, while also cracking down on benefit claimants who refuse to look for work; the reforms are aimed at "making work pay." Additionally, the Child Maintenance Service will be given new powers to process maintenance payment orders for absent fathers directly, reducing processing time.