Thomas Skinner has ripped into Chancellor Rachel Reeves on social media after it emerged she privately told the Office for Budget Responsibility that she intends to raise income tax in her autumn budget, despite Labour’s manifesto promise not to.
In the government’s formal submission to the OBR, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said a personal tax rise is one of the major measures she is preparing to announce later this month as she attempts to plug a £30 billion black hole in the public finances.
Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Reeves insisted she would put the “national interest” ahead of “political expediency” and warned that “we will all have to contribute” as part of fixing the UK’s economy.
The Chancellor is reportedly considering a 2p rise in income tax and a 2p cut in national insurance, shifting more of the burden towards pensioners and landlords rather than workers, a move economists say could raise over £6 billion a year.
Thomas Skinner called out Rachel Reeves on social media
| BBCMs Reeves could still change course, but the fact that this was formally given to the OBR is the clearest indication yet that she is prepared to break Labour’s tax pledge.
In response, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Ms Reeves of presiding over “managed decline” and refusing to take responsibility.
Now, Strictly Come Dancing star and small business owner Thomas Skinner has waded into the row, urging the Chancellor to “rethink" this proposal.
“It ain’t the best idea,” he warned on X. “It’s going to hammer small businesses right across the country. The local café, the builder, the market trader, the hairdresser, the baker… basically all the people who get up early and keep our brilliant country moving.
Rachel Reeves privately told the Office for Budget Responsibility that she intends to raise income tax in her autumn budget
| GETTY“If this happens, as soon as a small business earns over £30k, they’ll have to start charging VAT. That means higher prices for customers and less money in everyone’s pocket. It kills growth and punishes people for trying to do well.”
Mr Skinner added: “We need growth, we should be backing small businesses. They are the backbone of this country. I hope Rachel backs small businesses, not make life harder for them. What are your thoughts? Bosh.”
The TV star's post triggered a flood of support from those also opposed to Ms Reeves' proposal.
“If she puts income tax up we’ll have nurses at food banks,” one X user pointed out, while another joked: “Make Thomas Skinner Chancellor of the Exchequer. Bosh.”
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It looks like one of the things Rachel Reeves wants to do is drop the VAT threshold from £90,000 down to £30,000……
— Thomas Skinner ⚒ (@iamtomskinner) November 6, 2025
Rachel, please re think this. It aint the best idea. It’s going to hammer small businesses right across the country. The local café, the builder, the market…
Some followers of the TV personality used the moment to share how the expected tax changes would impact them personally.
"YES MATE !!!! YOU LITERALLY SUMMED UP EVERYTHING I WAS THINKING...Just had my 2nd child and things could not be tighter.... it's not that we do not earn enough its the speed that costs are rising @RachelReevesMP doesn't seem to see this !! We can't tax our way to growth.... we need to encourage and allow businesses to flourish!" one viewer penned, while another explained: "I've run my business for 27 years, if this happens I will cut my opening times to stay below the 30k." (sic)
However, not everyone was on board. One critic jeered: “Stick to dancing and eating fish for breakfast. Politics ain’t for you."
Mr Skinner stood his ground as he snapped back at the troll: “No, you’re right mate, I’ll stick my head in the sand like all the other idiots and let the country go to pot!
"Small businesses are the backbone of Britain. If we don’t stand up for them now, we won’t have a country worth standing up for later. Bosh.”
The row comes as the Bank of England warned this week that fears over tax rises in the upcoming Budget are already damaging the economy, with consumer spending and business investment falling in recent weeks as firms delay decisions due to “very high” uncertainty.
Trade unions, meanwhile, are backing Reeves, insisting that those with the “deepest pockets” should pay more.
TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said raising income tax on the wealthiest to fund public services “is no bad thing”, arguing that years of Tory austerity had left millions struggling.
Thomas Skinner ripped into Rachel Reeves for reportedly considering a 2p rise in income tax and a 2p cut in national insurance
| GETTYBut even within Labour there is division.
Deputy leader Lucy Powell cautioned that Ms Reeves risked breaking public trust if she tore up the party’s election promise not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, warning the government “should be following through” on what it pledged to voters.