Ken Clarke tells Rachel Reeves to raise income tax in her budget

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"Former chancellor Lord Ken Clarke has warned Rachel Reeves' "disastrous bad practice" of allowing her budget to be briefed before it is delivered has "produced an air of gloom over the economy". The respected former chancellor has also called on Ms Reeves to reconsider her decision not to increase income tax and instead raise it by 2p. Lord Clarke helped turn around the UK economy after black Wednesday in 1992 which forced the pound out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism."

The Independent requests donations to support reporters covering reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech on the ground. The outlet highlights investigations into Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC and a documentary titled 'The A Word' focusing on American women fighting for reproductive rights. Reporting and analysis are offered without paywalls and are funded by voluntary donations from those who can afford to pay. Former chancellor Lord Ken Clarke warned that pre-briefing a budget before it is delivered is "disastrous bad practice" that has "produced an air of gloom over the economy." Lord Clarke urged reconsideration of the decision not to increase income tax and proposed a 2p rise, citing his experience after Black Wednesday.

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