Badenoch says Budget 'does not come close to meeting the moment'

Kemi Badenoch said the Budget 'does not come close to meeting the moment', delivering her response in the House of Commons on 28 October 2026. The Budget, the government's statement on tax and spending, was due to be presented that day by Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey, the minister in charge of the public finances.

Badenoch was scheduled to respond once Healey finished, at around 1.30pm. In her response she argued the Budget was not 'bold enough'. She also accused Labour of leaving Britain 'overspent, overborrowed, overtaxed'.

Before the Budget, Britain's opposition Conservative Party called on the Labour government to cut spending and borrowing. Reuters reported that call on 20 October. On the same day, the party said Badenoch had challenged Andy Burnham to take the tough decisions needed to get Britain living within its means.

Earlier in the month, the Conservatives announced plans to abolish inheritance tax, a levy on estates passed on after death, on the family home. On 22 October the party set out a plan to put 10,000 extra police officers on the street.