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Oct 2024
21m 38s

The £40 billion gamble

THE TIMES
About this episode

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has raised taxes by £40 billion in the first Labour budget in fourteen years. Does it ‘fix the foundations’ or does it punish ‘working people’?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: David Smith, Economics Editor, The Sunday Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producer: Samantha Chantarasak.

Clips: Parliament live. 

Photo: Times Photographer Richard Pohle. 

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


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