27th October 2026 – (London) Chancellor John Healey will suspend import tariffs on over 100 “family favourite” goods, including marmalade and gherkins, as part of a pre‑Budget bundle of “everyday fixes” aimed at giving households breathing space amid cost‑of‑living pressures. The package, unveiled ahead of Wednesday’s fiscal statement, also confirms support for motorists, carers and new parents, and comes with the backing of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who said the government can address day‑to‑day costs while tackling longer‑term national challenges.
Officials said the changes would temporarily remove a 20 per cent tariff plus a £19 per 100kg charge on citrus jams and marmalades, alongside suspensions for more than 100 other commonly bought items. Sector briefings suggest the move is designed to target goods with little or no domestic production, limiting competitive distortions while seeking small but broad savings at the till.
Further measures include making the 55p per mile tax‑free mileage rate permanent for the first 10,000 business miles and lifting the rate above that from 25p to 35p per mile, replacing the carer’s allowance “cliff edge” with a taper so recipients can earn more without losing all support, offering two weeks of paternity pay to self‑employed fathers, and rolling out hundreds of additional Post Office drop boxes to simplify parcel sending.
The government is also expected to continue the freeze on fuel duty, alongside maintaining the temporary 5p‑per‑litre cut that has been in place since 2022, with ministers signalling that decisions on any extension beyond the current timetable will be set out at the Budget. Prior parliamentary statements indicate the cut has been extended through the end of 2026, with any further changes contingent on fiscal headroom and oil market conditions.
Conservatives dismissed the announcements as tinkering, with Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith arguing that “cheaper gherkins” is an inadequate response to higher taxes, borrowing costs and prices. Griffith, appointed to the role on 31st August 2026, has pressed the government to prioritise growth‑oriented tax reform over small consumer savings.
Healey framed the plan as a pragmatic response to global shocks that have lifted everyday costs, while Burnham—who became Prime Minister on 20th July 2026—said the government would not lose sight of practical steps that put money back in people’s pockets. The Budget on Wednesday will set out the full fiscal scorecard and confirm the duration of the tariff reliefs.