LABOUR-loving ex-footballer Gary Neville today tore into Rachel Reeves for hammering businesses with tax hikes.

The ex-Manchester United ace, who campaigned and cast his vote for Sir Keir Starmer, admitted the Chancellor’s national insurance hike on employers “could have been held back”.

The businessman told Sky News: “I honestly don't believe that, to be fair, companies and small businesses should be deterred from employing people.

“So, I think the National Insurance rise was one that I feel probably could have been held back, particularly in terms of the way in which the economy was.”

Mr Neville said he backs Labour’s minimum wage hike – but warned that tax raids on businesses were becoming a serious “challenge”.

Responding to the stinging rebuke, Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty said: “Wh

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