Community welcomes Autumn Budget

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey MP, announced the Autumn Budget on Wednesday in a speech that set out the Government’s plans for public spending, taxation and the wider economy.

This is the first budget delivered by a Community member since former Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke at the House of Commons dispatch box almost two decades ago.

Included in the policies announced by the Chancellor were:

• The abolition of standing charges on household gas bills, the removal of VAT from electricity bills and a £100 energy payment this winter for households in council tax bands A-D.
• Significant raises to the National Living Wage and the state pension, helping lift more people out of poverty by giving them the means to cover basic essentials.
• The extension of parental pay to around 150,000 self-employed individuals who will be eligible for two weeks’ support worth up to £194 a week.
• Support for motorists and commuters with a 55p per mile tax-free mileage rate made permanent and rise in the higher rate from 25p per mile to 35p, the extension of the 5p fuel duty cut and a £2 cap on bus fares.
• Lowering prices in the supermarket by removing trade barriers on imported foods such as baked beans and gherkins.
• A ‘Your First Home’ scheme to help first-time buyers access the property ladder through a Government-backed equity loans.
• Stronger regulations against bad businesses including consumer protections against rogue traders and easier mechanisms to cancel unwanted subscriptions.
• A raise to the surcharge on bank profits from 3% to 6%, meaning finance sector giant who are posting record profits pay their fair share in tax.
• Doubling funding to nearly £900m to combat homelessness and put an end to rough sleeping.
• Significant investment in our defence capabilities that will make the UK more secure and continue to protect Ukraine, as well as stronger commitments to ensure procurement boosts jobs in British manufacturing.
• A £15m fund established to tackle misogyny in schools, at work and in communities.
• The backdating of energy cost relief for 10,000 manufacturing firms through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

Community General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid said:

“Under difficult global conditions, the Chancellor has published a budget that follows in the traditions of the labour movement.

Alasdair McDiarmid at Community’s Biennial Delegate Conference 2026

“He has minimised damage to the wallets of working people and continued the path of re-balancing our economy so that all regions and nations benefit from our national prosperity.

“Community welcomes the impactful measures that the Chancellor has prioritised, such as capping bus fares, removing charges on household energy bills and granting thousands of our members a £100 energy payment this winter. These will give millions of workers much-needed breathing space during a cost-of-living crisis.

“The extension of Statutory Paternity Pay to 150,000 individuals is particularly welcome to our self-employed members who Community has long argued require greater social protections in times of need.

“The Chancellor promised a budget that would provide breathing space. We have seen that budget delivered today.

“We hope that future fiscal statements will build on the good work that has already been delivered by the Government to support our steel industry and drive the reindustrialisation agenda that this Government has championed. This must include decisive action to tackle the UK’s sky-high industrial energy costs.

“What has been announced today will provide the sorely needed breathing space for workers, businesses and communities across our country.”