Self-employed fathers will get parental pay under the Government's 'everyday fixes', but the weekly shop will be JUST 40p cheaper

From the Newshound archive · first published 27 October 2026.

Chancellor John Healey will deliver the Burnham government's first Budget on Wednesday, packaging five "everyday fixes" that cover extended parental pay, mileage relief for workers who drive, and cuts to import tariffs — though the Joseph Rowntree Foundation cautions that families could be as much as £770 a year worse off across this parliament.

Around 150,000 self-employed fathers and partners will qualify for two weeks of parental support worth nearly £400.

Under reforms to Carer's Allowance, unpaid carers who earn just above the threshold will no longer forfeit the benefit in full, removing a cliff edge that has drawn criticism for years.