Young voters urge budget cuts to student loans, tax thresholds and fuel duty

With the Budget scheduled for 28 October, young Britons are pressing Chancellor John Healey for measures that would directly improve their finances. Toby Whelton, a 24-year-old researcher at the Intergenerational Foundation, says one outlet 9 % repayment rate on Plan 2 student loans and up-to-6 % interest are unsustainable and proposes a cut to 5 %. Dan Johnson, 35, from Whitley Bay, highlights that the personal-allowance and higher-rate tax thresholds have been frozen until 2031, pushing many earners into the 40 % tax band, and calls for their unfreezing or broader tax reform.

Taylor Cooper, 31, from Gravesend, wants a postponement of the planned 3 p and 2 p per litre fuel-duty hikes and additional support to curb soaring energy bills, noting the impact on household budgets and savings. Both Andy Burnham and Healey have signalled they are reviewing the tax-threshold freeze, though no firm commitment has been made. The interviewees stress that the Budget should focus on long-term reforms rather than short-term cost-cutting.