Chancellor Rachel Reeves signalling manifesto breaking tax rises will come to be seen as the most significant moment of this administration. In fact, the first income tax rise in 50 years could cost her Labour Government the next election.

Rarely do chancellors need to pitch-roll their own Budgets three weeks in advance at 8:15am for peak breakfast radio and TV numbers. Yet Tuesday morning’s offering was Reeves leaving herself the option to break the manifesto when she stands up in Parliament on 26 November, even if she wouldn’t explicitly say so.

Asked if she was prepared to break Labour’s manifesto promise not to raise income tax , even if that might cost her party the next term, the Chancellor said: “We have got to do the right thing.”

She added: “If you’re asking what comes fi

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