Reeves warned not to make pensioners scapegoats for failure to revive economy

PENSIONERS must not be made the scapegoat for Rachel Reeves's economic failures, campaigners have warned ahead of a speech by the Chancellor today.

- CHRISTIAN CALGIE Senior Political Correspondent

PENSIONERS must not be made the scapegoat for Rachel Reeves's economic failures, campaigners have warned ahead of a speech by the Chancellor today.

Ms Reeves will reveal her priorities for this month's Budget and address mounting speculation about plans to break her manifesto commitment on income tax.

She is expected to admit that her 2024 Budget failed to fix the economy's foundations and is now coming back for more to boost funding for other priorities, such as the NHS. Ms Reeves will say: "You will all have heard a lot of speculation about the choices I will make.

"I understand that - these are important choices that will shape our economy for years to come.

"But it is important that people understand the circumstances we are facing, the principles guiding my choices - and why I believe they will be the right choices for the country." However, the Chancellor was issued a stark warning not to balance the books on the back of pensioners amid talk of a 2p hike in income tax. Dennis Reed, director of over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, told the Express that the rumoured rise would "hammer the large majority of pensioners".

He warned: "Silver Voices has no objection to the very wealthy, whatever their age, paying more in income tax to improve our public services. But we warn the Chancellor not to target pensioners again in her Budget plans.