Last year, the government

Mother-of-two Loreta Khamess, who is out of work because of her disability, says the plans have left her feeling "worried, stressed and anxious".From 1 April, non-working households in Slough will have to pay council tax for the first time – having previously been exempt.

Ms Khames also fearsfor Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and to reduce Disability Living Allowance for children could affect her.Slough Borough Council leaders voted earlier this year to cut council tax discounts for families on low incomes.

based on household income, and until this week families where no one is in work were exempt from paying.Council leaders have approved a

of £350,000 to help people facing "exceptional hardship" and said it will work with the voluntary sector to ensure support reaches people with disabilities.

Ms Khamess used to work as a carer but had to stop due to a worsening epilepsy condition.Reeves said Labour's Budget would "deliver sustainable long-term growth, putting more money in people's pockets through increased investment and relentless reform."

Liberal Democrat treasury spokesperson, Daisy Cooper called on the government to reverse the national insurance tax hike on small businesses and scrap the business rates system.The CBI, which claims to represent 170,000 firms, said its survey based on responses of 899 firms between 25 November and 12 December, found private sector businesses across all industries expected a "steep decline in activity" in the first three months in 2025.

"Expectations are now at their weakest in over two years," said Alpesh Paleja, the CBI's interim deputy chief economist.A separate survey by the British Retail Consortium, which represents UK retailers ranging from Marks and Spencer to Tesco, suggested a "January spending squeeze on the horizon" for consumers.