Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s 2024 Budget introduces £40 billion in tax hikes, targeting stronger public services and fiscal stability. Key measures include raising capital gains tax from 10% to 18% (basic rate) and 20% to 24% (higher rate), freezing the inheritance tax threshold until 2030, and a £25 billion boost from higher National Insurance (NI) for businesses. The minimum wage will rise to £12.21 per hour for over-21s, and NHS funding will increase by £22.6 billion, with education seeing £6.7 billion. The economy is forecast to grow 2% next year, and inflation is expected to average 2.6%.