Move aims to bring in extra £1.2bn of savings as government seeks to head off criticism over welfare spending * You be the chancellor: play our budget game Rachel Reeves will launch a fresh crackdown on benefit fraud at the same time as lifting the two-child limit for universal credit at a cost of £3bn, as ministers seek to head off criticism over rising welfare spending in the budget. The chancellor has made the decision to scrap the two-child limit in full, a move that will be welcomed by Labour MPs who have long highlighted its effect on increasing child poverty. Freezing income tax thresholds for an extra two years to 2030, bringing more people into higher tax bands as wages rise. Making salary sacrifice schemes less generous, including those for pension contributions. Bringing in higher tax on the most expensive properties, including a surcharge on the highest-value houses. A pay-per-mile scheme on electric cars to help fill the tax gap from petrol duty as more people opt for green vehicles. Continue reading...

Kemi Badenoch has said hacking into Harriet Harman's website when she was younger is "not the same" as Rachel Reeves failing to get a £900 rental licence for her home.