Tories to lift average tax bill by £342
THE average worker faces a £342 tax increase over the next year, Labour says.
Next month’s National Insurance rise from 12% to 13.5% will almost wipe out the loan scheme offered by Rishi Sunak to soften energy price rises.
The Chancellor is to give £200 off energy bills, to be repaid later, and a £150 council tax rebate.
But Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “The Government has allowed the cost-of-living crisis to spiral and will now make it worse with a tax hike.”
The Treasury said of the NI increase: “The Health and Social Care Levy will provide a... permanent source of funding to support the NHS.”
Just the jab for lad
CANCER patient Kyan Harris, 13, met hero boxer Joe Calzaghe in Maesteg, Wales, thanks to charity Dreams and Wishes.