The Lead

Taxes on private jets, 50% increase in bus fares, and an end to austerity? Rachel Reeves' first budget has raised eyebrows and hopes alike. Our Westminster Editor Zoë Grünewald unpacks what the budget means for you, and what it tells us about the new governing party. Subscribe for more analysis below.

The two-child benefit cap might save government £4.3 billion a year. That's a lot. But what if I told you that the cost of child poverty far exceeds this amount for taxpayers, each year? Samir Jeraj on the borrowing Labour isn't talking about.

If you were Chancellor, how would you spend £50 billion? Economist Phil Tomlinson explains how the Chancellor's new approach to fiscal rules could boost Britain’s future ahead of today's budget. Read it here: https://buff.ly/3YEf76S

Good to speak with Jacob Granger at Journalism.co.uk about how The Lead has been developing and the recent shift to Substack Early days of course but we've seen improved send/open/engagement rates (ticking the box of ensuring our journalism gets in front of more people), encouraging early subscription signs (free and paid-for) and from a journalistic/content editing point of view it's very straightforward to publish and get going. Well done to Lillian Race, Dimi Reider, Natalie Morris, Zoë Grünewald, Diyora Shadijanova, Luke Beardsworth, Jamie Lopez, Leigh Jones and Leah Borromeo And of course Michael Harris for his backing and support. Onwards to launching in Calderdale in the coming weeks. #journalism #localjournalism #newsletters #emailnewsletters #publishing

If you sell your business tomorrow, you - individually - could qualify for up to £1m low tax relief. Why? Because. It’s as arbitrary as it sounds. This is our tax system’s a dirty little secret: Entrepreneur's Relief. We say: Scrap the disastrous two-child benefit cap, and close the Entrepreneurs Relief loophole to raise the money. Add your signature below.  

Most economists agree that the government needs a credible fiscal framework. With Chancellor Rachel Reeves eyeing up a new approach to fiscal rules, economist Phil Tomlinson breaks down what it all means and whether it meets the mark. Read the full article in our latest newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e8wTpbH2

No, we're not The Mill. The Lead is its regional, advocacy-minded neighbour. Here's a great writeup in Journalism.co.uk on the changes we've pivoted to across all our titles. Extra thanks goes to the multi-skilled and versatile Lillian Race for her invaluable support and initiative - proving once again that if you task young talent with the hard stuff, they'll teach you more than you can teach them. https://lnkd.in/edpaJjqZ Dimi Reider Diyora Shadijanova Natalie Morris Zoë Grünewald Ed Walker Luke Beardsworth

Our titles in the North have joined the party on Substack - and confirmed the launch of a brand new edition in Yorkshire. The Blackpool Lead is joined by relaunched The Teesside Lead, edited by the excellent Leigh Jones, who has earned his reputation covering hard-hitting issues at both The Northern Echo and The Yorkshire Post. Our first title in Yorkshire will be a partnership with former Burnley Express and Bolton News man Andrew Greaves. He will head up The Calderdale Lead. You can read more about it here (and subscribe below): https://lnkd.in/ewfszt7s

Britain’s tax system has a dirty little secret: Entrepreneur's Relief. Reeves should abolish it - and use the money gained to remove the shameful two-child benefit cap. Here’s how you do it, straight from an entrepreneur.

Our publisher, Michael Harris, rarely writes for The Lead. But when “over 1,500 business people” wrote to Rachel Reeves to demand a tax break at the expense of everyone else, he'd had enough. Reeves should abolish BADR - and use the money gained to remove the shameful two-child benefit cap. Here’s why.