# Reader Q&A: Our money and economics correspondents answer your Budget 2026 questions – live

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/reader-qa-our-money-and-economics-correspondents-answer-your-budget-2026-questions-live/
- Published: 2026-10-29T15:02:48+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T16:04:42+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2026/oct/29/budget-2026-reader-questions-john-healey-chancellor-hilary-osborne-heather-stewart
- Topics: Art, Business, Culture

## Key points

- A reader questioned why the Budget left more wealth untaxed.
- The correspondent said capital gains tax reform could raise more revenue.
- The bank surcharge increase is temporary, amid concerns about costs passed to customers.

## Summary

A reader asked why the Chancellor’s Budget did not raise more from wealthy people and banks, arguing that the measures left substantial potential revenue untapped. The reply agreed that reforming capital gains tax could raise more, while noting that the government may be concerned about avoidance and the effect on international investors.

The reader said the bank surcharge increase is temporary and pointed to Lloyds’ near-doubling of pre-tax profits, as well as proposals to tax banks’ UK retail income. The correspondent said a lasting bank tax could have been bolder, but suggested the Treasury may have faced lobbying and warnings that banks would pass costs on to customers through higher interest rates.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.