London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Apr 07, 2026

Labour's Tax Crackdown: Boosting HMRC to Fund NHS and School Breakfast Clubs, Raising £5.1bn Annually

Labour plans to fund policies on the NHS and school breakfast clubs by increasing tax collection efforts, promising up to £555m for officials.
This is expected to raise £5.1bn annually.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, accused the Conservatives of failing to address tax dodging.

The Conservatives introduced 200 measures to combat tax non-compliance, but the Labour Party cannot yet specify how they will fund their promises without raising taxes.

Labour had previously planned to pay for these pledges by replacing the UK's non-dom tax regime.

The UK government is planning to change tax rules for non-domiciled individuals, who live in the UK but pay taxes in their home country, to fund a cut to National Insurance.

This move has raised questions for the Labour party, which has a self-imposed rule against borrowing for day-to-day spending.

In response, Labour's Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has proposed an alternative plan to increase tax collections.

According to Labour, the tax gap between what is owed and what the government collects was £36bn in the 2021/22 financial year.

The Labour party proposes increasing funding to tackle tax evasion and fraud by investing £555m in hiring more tax officers and digitizing the tax office.

This approach is estimated to raise £5.8bn annually by the end of the parliament.

The National Audit Office head suggested the government could save £6bn yearly by addressing tax evasion and avoidance.

Labour aims to provide HMRC with the necessary resources to investigate tax evaders and modernize the tax office.

HMRC has been calculating the tax gap since 2005.

The text discusses the reduction of the gap between the UK's tax revenue and spending, which has fallen from 7.5% in 2005 to 4.8% in 2021/22.

The Labour party supports the proposed replacement of non-dom rules but suggests strengthening it by including foreign assets held in trust within UK inheritance tax and removing a 50% discount in the first year of the new rules.

These changes could bring in £1bn in one year and £2.6bn over the next Parliament.

The Liberal Democrats believe these changes are not enough and have proposed fully-costed plans to fund care for everyone.

It's common for governments to announce plans to increase revenue by reducing tax avoidance or evasion.

The text discusses the UK government's plan to increase corporation tax to help pay for COVID-19 recovery efforts.

However, the author notes that the Office for Budget Responsibility has expressed uncertainty about how much revenue this measure will actually generate and how quickly it can be brought in.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
King Charles Faces Criticism From Some UK Christians Over Absence of Easter Message
Former UK Defence Secretary Raises Concerns Over Ability to Counter Iran Missile Threat
UK Signals Non-Involvement in Iran Conflict as Trump Reasserts Firm Deterrence Stance
US and UK Strengthen Medical Device Cooperation Following Tariff Removal
Trump Backs Steve Hilton for California Governor, Highlighting Reform Agenda
UK Seeks Closer Ties With Anthropic as AI Policy Divergence Emerges Across Atlantic
Experts Warn of Evolving Extremism After Teens Arrested in UK Ambulance Arson Case
UK Convenes Talks to Safeguard Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz After Conflict Escalation
Trump Highlights Strong Leadership in Critique of UK Stance on Iran
UK Authorities Review Kanye West’s Entry Status Following Festival Backlash
UK Considers Deploying Aircraft Carrier for US Independence Day Celebrations Amid Renewed Transatlantic Focus
United Kingdom Moves to Attract AI Firm Anthropic Amid Tensions with US Defense Officials
RAF Intercepts Iranian Drones in Middle East to Defend Allied Security Interests
Labour Signals Shift on Foie Gras and Fur Restrictions to Advance EU Trade Talks
Seven Arrested Near RAF Base as UK Authorities Respond to Protest Activity
Economic Pressures Mount as Analysts Warn UK Growth Is Being Constrained by Policy Burdens
UK Green Party’s Push for Church-State Separation Sparks Debate Over National Identity
Strategic Island Emerges as Growing Challenge for United States and United Kingdom Defense Planning
Pepsi Pulls Sponsorship from UK Festival Following Backlash Linked to Kanye West
Signs Emerge of Declining Enthusiasm for Social Media in the United Kingdom
Security Alert Raised Ahead of Meghan Markle’s Planned Visit to Australia
UK Food Halls Defy Hospitality Slowdown, Emerging as Bright Spot in Challenging Market
UK Sets Firm Conditions for Military Action, Insisting on Legal Mandate and Clear Strategy
UK Medicines Regulator Launches Probe into Peptide Clinics Over Health Claims
New North Sea Drilling Unlikely to Significantly Cut UK Gas Imports, Analysis Finds
Woman Linked to UK’s First All-Female Terror Plot Faces Deportation
Downed US Aircraft Over Iran Linked to Operations from UK Airfield
Two Men and Teen Detained in UK Following Attack on Jewish Charity Ambulance
UK Police Launch Inquiry After Firearms Left Unattended Outside Mayor’s Residence
Giuffre Family Calls on King Charles to Meet Epstein Survivors During US Visit
Amber Wind Warning Issued as Storm Dave Approaches Parts of the United Kingdom
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit Set to Draw Heightened Global Attention
UK Considers Entry Fees for Overseas Visitors at Major Museums Ahead of 2026 Travel Season
UK Prime Minister and Kuwait Crown Prince Coordinate Security Response After Regional Escalation
Calls Grow to Expand Fully Paid Maternity Leave for UK Teachers Amid Workforce Pressures
UK Secures Tariff-Free Access to US Market in Landmark Pharmaceuticals Agreement
Trump Projects Strength in Critique of UK Leadership and Naval Readiness
UK FinTech Setback as VibePay and Smartlayer Cease Operations Amid Funding Pressures
UK Leads Global Coalition of Over Forty Nations to Address Strait of Hormuz Crisis
UK Firms Urged to Accelerate Preparation as New Sustainability Reporting Rules Take Shape
UK Moves Rapid Sentry Air Defence System to Kuwait After Drone Strike Escalation
Transatlantic Relations Tested as UK Seeks Balance While Trump Reshapes Strategic Approach
Trump’s Strategic Pressure on UK Seen as Push for Stronger Alignment and Fairer Terms
UK Focuses on Trade Finance to Secure Critical Materials for Defence and Energy Sectors
Majority of UK Businesses Hit by Middle East Conflict While Confidence Holds Firm
UK Royal Navy Faces Renewed Scrutiny as Debate Intensifies Over Capability and Readiness
Reform UK Faces Mounting Distractions as Policy Agenda Struggles to Gain Traction
Investigation Launched Into Northern Cyprus IVF Clinics After UK Families Receive Incorrect Sperm
International Meeting Issues Unified Call to Safeguard Navigation Through Strait of Hormuz
Potential Strait of Hormuz Closure Raises Concerns Over UK Food and Medicine Supply Chains
×