The Chancellor, John Healey, has rejected a capital gains tax rise in today's Budget, PA reports. Its Budget-day preview, carried by Radio News Hub, says he turned it down despite calls from within Labour to bring CGT closer to the rate on earnings.
PA states the rejection as fact but does not say where it comes from. The Yorkshire Post is more cautious. It says reports suggest Mr Healey was talked down from potentially raising CGT.
Earlier reports that CGT rises were off the table rested on analysts quoted by AFP. There is still no on-the-record confirmation from the Treasury, and the measure remains a report until the statement is delivered.
Both outlets say income tax, employee National Insurance and VAT will not rise. The Yorkshire Post says this is "as per the Labour manifesto". It expects the Chancellor to increase a tax on banking profits to pay for his cost-of-living measures. PA says he is reportedly considering lifting the bank surcharge from 3% to 8%, which the TUC puts at £2.25bn a year.