British Businesses Say Budget Tax Hikes Will Cut Jobs and Investment

  • Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves lifted payroll tax
  • Firms with lots of part-time staff face sharp rise in costs

Reeves’ budget included measures to protect the UK’s smallest businesses with a relief that it said would mean 865,000 employers paying no national insurance.

Photographer: Jose Sarmento Matos/Bloomberg
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British businesses have warned they will hire fewer people and cut back on investments after the Labour government raised taxes by £40 billion ($52 billion).

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves ruled out direct tax hikes on workers ahead of Wednesday’s budget, leaving companies and shareholders on the hook for most of the extra revenue.