The UK government has announced plans to increase NHS funding by £9.4bn and add 8000 full-time GPs to the workforce in order to reduce waiting times for appointments and ease the burden on GPs. In addition, pharmacists will be empowered to prescribe certain medications, while efforts will be made to reduce waiting times for cancer treatments to 62 days from diagnosis to treatment start. The funding for these initiatives will come from increased taxes on banks and closing tax loopholes for the wealthy, projected to raise £7bn.
Regarding the economy, the government has pledged to address the cost of living and food prices through a National food strategy. They are also focused on improving the UK’s trading relationship with Europe, potentially reducing costs. Measures will be taken to support HMRC in combating tax avoidance, and public spending will be increased by £27bn annually by 2029. Levies on banks will be raised to generate an additional £4bn and capital gains reforms are expected to raise over £5bn. Plans for an aviation duty to penalize frequent fliers more heavily are still in discussion. Tax cuts will be prioritized when public finances allow, with income tax reductions and an increased tax-free personal allowance benefiting many families and low-wage workers exempt from income tax.
In terms of jobs and businesses, the government aims to create more job opportunities for working people and encourage businesses to invest in training in order to address the productivity crisis.
