Marking the Autumn Budget Bingo card

The Autumn Budget has been hard to miss if you keep up with the news. Rumours have been emblazoned across every weekend and weekday paper, and plastered across every online news site for weeks, and it’s even creeping its way onto my social channels.

The spotlight on Rachel Reeves, and Labour’s, first Budget is intense and it will come to a head when she takes the stand next Wednesday lunchtime. There are expected to be some punchy policy announcements as the Chancellor looks to plug that scary black hole Labour inherited.

Here are the things that we’ll be looking out for in our Budget bingo. From big policy announcements through to what Rachel Reeves might be drinking. I’ve got my money on an Earl Grey with perhaps a splash of something stronger on the side.

1. Personal tax shake ups.

Changes to Inheritance and Capital Gains Tax are the biggies. Some experts say Labour will tinker around the edges of gifting rules, while others have their money on more significant changes. It’s likely that any large scale changes would come as part of a consultation rather than an overnight overhaul (I might be eating my hat on Wednesday afternoon).

2. The rabbit out the hat moment

Rachel Reeves’ predecessors have become known for rabbit out the hat moments. That thing tucked up their sleeve that no one was expecting, or that wasn’t picked up in any of the rumours. Remember pension freedoms? Or the conservatives stealing the show on non-doms? Take your guess!

3. Alcohol Duty

It wouldn’t be a Budget without a mention of alcohol duty, so mark that on your cards and keep an eye on whether your glass of rosé, or pint of beer will be going up or down.

4. On the theme of drinks

Tradition states that the Chancellor is allowed to drink whatever they wish while making the annual budget speech. Whisky, gin and brandy have all gone down the hatch in past statements - a little ‘refresh’. Rachel Reeves is reported to be a lover of an Earl Grey so perhaps we’ll see a bergamot inspired cocktail in her hand!

5. On the clock

In 1853 William Gladstone delivered the longest ever continuous Budget statement at FOUR hours and 45 minutes, fuelled by a sherry and a beaten egg. Here’s hoping that Rachel Reeves keeps it shorter than that. I’m going for 56 minutes.

And if you haven’t got enough for your bingo card yet there are some phrases that are likely to crop up a few times; economic stability, growth, conservative inheritance, black hole, difficult decisions, broadest shoulders, working people, cracking down, closing loopholes.

See you all at lunchtime on Wednesday!