This afternoon Chancellor, John Healey delivered the Autumn Budget for 2026. He called it a budget for working people, to give them breathing space amongst global uncertainty, but it is clear this is a difficult time to be making economic forecasts.
Energy, fiscal responsibility and economic growth were key areas the Chancellor focused on, with the announcement of removal of gas standing charges, approval of the Jack Daw gas field, cuts to business rates and a 39% increase to living and minimum wage.
The establishment of a National Care Service and a review of NHS productivity and AI were covered, with the aim of saving staff time to spend with their patients, not on admin. This digital overhaul of government falls under a civil service transformation to support saving “£600m from back office budgets”.
A notable announcement came in the confirmation of tariff removal on 100 food items including:
- Baked beans
- Garlic
- Gherkins
- Chocolate-coated wafers and waffles
- Boiled sweets
- Toffees, caramels and similar sweets
- Citrus jams, marmalades and pastes
- Throat pastilles and cough drops
- Plant-based drinks including soya, nut, cereal or seed
- Kerosene
- Fertilisers
This is the second cost of living tariff initiative this year. The first came in June 2026 and included the removal of tariffs on pasta, fruit juice and tuna. According to the government, the two packages are expected to reduce consumer costs by approximately £245-£595 million per year [1]. In real terms that could save households up to £21 per year, or 40p per week [2].
With rising costs and families facing continued pressure we welcome action to make food more affordable. However, we question whether this supports solving the route cause of food insecurity or tackles health inequalities. Reducing the price of a limited range of products may ease costs in the short term, but it falls short of addressing the broader affordability pressures that put a healthy, balanced diet out of reach for many households.
We weren't expecting to see any announcements on NHS pay in this budget, but this is a key issue that we are fighting for on your behalf. We will stay on top of these budget announcments to let you know how this affects you and your practice.
For any queries email: [email protected]
[1] Everyday fixes to make life easier for millions of Britons - GOV.UK
[2] Minimum wage set to rise but 18-20 year-olds will not get bigger increases - BBC News
