Post your questions for Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,
Next week we’ll be back in Westminster to put your questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP.
If there’s something you’d like me to ask her - from the big economic picture to how the cost of living is affecting families (or anything else) - then please post your question below.

As ever, one question per user please, and keep it civil. We’ll be tight on time, so short, focused questions will help us get through as many as possible.

We’ll close the thread early on Sunday evening, so please do get your questions in before then. We’ll be back soon with her responses.

Thanks,
Justine

Why are the energy savings only going to those on benefits, when research shows a family with two parents in work must earn £71k to have a comparable standard of living to someone on universal credit. Why is this not also being extended to those who qualify for child benefit for example?

Research showed nothing of the sort. There was no research, it was pure confection and was debunked.

https://benefitsinthefuture.com/lies-damned-lies-and-the-telegraph/

Dear Chancellor, what should motivate me to work and to save for my retirement if you're going to means test state pension?

Assuming 83 years of UK average life expectancy, means 16 years of getting state pension, the total value is about £200k.

If I try to work hard and save, you take 40-62% of my income in taxes, than 35-42% tax on my investment income, than you take away my state pension - why would I bother?

You plan a flat rate cap on NIC savings from salary sacrifice pension contributions in 2029, to tackle higher earners squirrelling away thousands in their pensions. Predominantly these are people in 100k trap.

How are you going to ensure they just don't drop their hours? These are high earners who drive UK's productivity and still pay over 40% of all income taxes.

Another query re care costs here. This is clearly a ticking time bomb given the rise in dementia and comorbid conditions that mean more people living longer but with poor health.

Are there plans to create cross party agreement on this? Both my parents have had dementia long term. They've had to sell their home to pay for years of nursing care, costing hundreds of thousands between them, and still paying. This seems grossly unfair to me - people should need to shoulder some cost of their own, but cannot a cap eg of 100k per adult be brought in? Or insurance systems? If you're unlucky enough to end up wasting away in a nursing home, you shouldn't be penalised financially too (at least not more than those who are physically ill and need help, but who dont need to pay for hospital/ hospice care).

It doesn't give me any incentive to save for old age thinking that will be my fate.

So much misinformation and ignorance around benefits.Hence all the bashing. It really needs to be clarified in the media and through Government..even Ministers have got it wrong. Like Pat McFadden not understanding PIP..Please sort this out.

It should give you every incentive. It’s definitely incentivised me having seen the kind of shithole the local authority deems appropriate. I want the kind of care home I found for my parents, not somewhere like the one that made me cry when I viewed it.

Hello I work in a slightly forgotten corner of the public sector in education.
We don't get the large pay rises and budgets and monies other areas do and yet , we deal with some of the most disadvantaged teens in society either failed with Sen by our school system or family issues.
Your national insurance hike has massively impacted us as well as our students who are struggling to get part time work or have lost jobs due to your costs affecting hospitality.

Do you think you should have taxed profit not growth and do you feel that simply rasing tax thresholds would have actually solved many issues.
With money flowing to you with people properly having more money in their pockets ?
And lastly other countries are moving heaven and earth to help with fuel costs what are you taking from their measures and what will you implement that directly helps us.

With hindsight, do you regret lying on your CV, given your appalling performance as chancellor?

• re care home costs i don't want to end up in " care " I've worked in it thanks I want to chose my own death. I want the right to choose how and when i die like I can do for my poorly cat.

Sorry one more thing WATER bills don't get as much air time and energy but they are WORSE AND ABSOLUTLY Crippling
.please look into water bills.

When you lied extensively all over your CV.

Did you ever think you would get found out, or did the Labour propaganda machine tell you they would handle it and say you’re a woman, therefore can’t be criticised. And your lies on your CV could be blamed on the Tories?

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Low‑income workers tend to spend almost everything they earn, which means any extra money in their pockets goes straight back into the economy and supports local businesses. With that in mind, will you look at raising the personal tax allowance to at least £16000 so the lowest earners can keep more of what they make — and if that’s not something you’re considering, what’s your alternative for boosting disposable income at the bottom end?

Yes, why do we have to pay so much to water companies that aren’t doing their job? Would you reconsider nationalising given they’re dumping sewage and can’t be trusted? In what other scenario would you pay for terrible service, with no choice in provider.

The tax system is really unfair to single parents. As a mum of 2, I have a 3 bedroom home, which costs the same whether there are 1 or 2 adults in it. Same bills, same upkeep etc. In addition I am solely financially responsible for my children. I have a 25% council tax discount. And maybe you could argue a slightly smaller food bill. I run 1 car. I am someone who earns a good wage but in terms of household income, I am likely the same as many of my neighbours. They all pay 20% only on their income but I fall into the next tax bracket. That means on the same household income I pay more tax than a 2 parent family in the same financial situation. Again if only one parent worked, in a 2 parent situation, they can claim their partners tax allowance. I take no money from the state, not even child benefit, yet I am penalised. This feels like a discriminatory tax situation that inadvertently impacts more women as we are more likely to be the main carers. I feel punished for getting on and taking care of my own.

If you live abroad - for the 2026-27 tax year, voluntary National Insurance (NI) for expats generally costs £18.40 a week (£956.80 a year)via Class 3 contributions to top up a state pension.
This is a great package for someone living and working in another country. Basically, pay only £956.80 a year National Insurance for the number of qualifying years you require and get a full state pension from the UK. In addition you probably will receive a pension from the country you are currently working in as well as any additional private pension.

What a great deal for someone… move overseas to a country with less taxes and a better healthcare system, pay a small amount into your UK national insurance per year £956.80 (no additional taxes paid to the UK as working overseas) pay in your qualifying years - at pensionable age you receive the full state pension from the UK (even if you don’t ever live in the UK again!) AND potentially receive a full state pension from the country you are residing in, and any additional private pension.

In the UK workers are taxed to the hilt just to get by in life, try to save for the future and then if care is required at some point (which it’s so expensive it seems exceptionally wrong), everything you’ve worked for bar £20 odd grand gets wiped. I’m not saying care can be free for all, but I get the impression from some people I work with (professional sector) they are living for today and not saving for their pension or property - they don’t see the point! These same people in 20/30 years time will be retiring with a lot less than many people are retiring with now or in the next 10 years or so, as final pensions become extremely rare and private company pensions are not as good as they were unless you can afford AVCs.
Why do you continue to offer the option for people who live overseas who are who potentially on a better wage in another country than they were in the UK, and a better exchange rate against the GBP, the ability to contribute such a small yearly amount in N. I. Contributions, to enable a full state pension in the future just like the rest of us who have worked hard in the UK?

Spending on incapacity and disability benefits has risen by 45% and 26% respectively in real terms since 2019–20, driven by increased health-related claims rather than higher awards. What are you going to do about this? People must not be paid for not working due to lifestyle choices and false claims.

When are you going to step down and have a qualified person do the job?

As the Labour Party what are you doing to prepare the economy and protect jobs from AI? Will you be developing free training so workers who are not just on benefits or low incomes can move into growth areas if they lose their roles

Well said 😊

Will the Chancellor please assure us that the YEAR the government has taken to review the 11 pages of the EHRC code updated to account for the Supreme Court judgment in FWS isn't a deliberate delay while they seek to change the Equality Act in order to undermine single sex spaces and women's rights?

Please can you advise what the Government intend to do about the 85,000 case backlog for civil service pensions. Some people retired a year ago and haven't received a penny of pension yet. I've been waiting 2 months, how long do you think is acceptable to wait to receive your CS pension.

Some fantastic questions on this thread I hope that the Chancellor will at least read them all, as they really tell quite a story.

Why do families with one earner on 60k always get shafted? They lose child benefit, have minimal loans for university for their kids. 60k is not a large income for a family after tax. There are some families with 3+ children getting more than this in benefits and their kids still get full loans for university. Can you explain this and make it make sense as I am not understanding it at all.