Reeves undermines efforts to kickstart growth by failing to rule out tax raids

BUSINESSES could be hit by even more tax rises, experts warned yesterday after the Chancellor refused to rule them out this year.

- Steph Spyro

Rachel Reeves, already in hot water with bosses for hiking employers' national insurance contributions, failed to deny she will include further tax raids in the spring Budget.

It came as she delivered a major speech outlining plans to "kickstart economic growth", which include backing the building of a third runway at Heathrow.

But an airline boss said Ms Reeves was "talking rubbish" and "has no clue how to deliver growth".

And a marketing expert warned further tax hikes on firms could force more small businesses to close.

When asked if the Government could guarantee no more tax increases on companies, Ms Reeves said: "I'm not going to write five years' worth of Budgets in the first six months of office.