03 Mar 2026
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will present the 2026 Spring Statement today. We will keep you up to date on the key Spring Statement announcements and supply a summary, which will appear on our website.
Ahead of the Statement, five major banks agreed an £11 billion lending package aimed at SMEs to support small business growth. The government said this represents a 'show of confidence in the UK economy' which will help boost investment.
Meanwhile, business groups have outlined their priorities for UK firms. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) recently said that businesses were 'hit hard' in 2025 by the increase to National Insurance contributions (NICs), with many facing further pressure brought on by rising labour costs.
Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work Policy at the BCC, stated that businesses want to see concrete action to reduce costs, boost exports and encourage investment at the Spring Statement.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) warned the government that it must 'do more' to help restore confidence levels among small firms. Late payments and cost pressures on small businesses and the self-employed have meant pressure has 'built and built', the FSB said.
In addition to appeals from leading business groups, campaigns have been created which urge the Chancellor to double the Income Tax threshold for state pensioners and scrap the so-called 'holiday tax'.