Business
Labour must stick to manifesto pledge not to raise key taxes, Lucy Powell says
Labour’s new deputy leader Lucy Powell has said the Government should not rip up its manifesto promises over tax hikes, amid mounting speculation it is preparing to do so at the Budget.
Ms Powell, who was sacked from Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet in September before winning the deputy leadership election last month, said “we should be following through on our manifesto, of course”.
She suggested breaking the pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT would damage “trust in politics”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, the former Commons leader said: “We should be following through on our manifesto, of course. There’s no question about that.”
She continued: “Trust in politics is a key part of that because if we’re to take the country with us then they’ve got to trust us and that’s really important too.”
Ms Powell said the highly anticipated Budget should be about “putting more money back into the pockets of ordinary working people”.
She said: “That’s what that manifesto commitment is all about. And that’s what this Budget will be about I’m sure.”
She added: “It’s really important we stand by the promises that we were elected on and that we do what we said we would do.”
The Manchester Central MP also called for the two-child benefit cap to be lifted “in full” as a matter of urgency.
The Government has come under increasing pressure to scrap the policy, which restricts child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in most households.
Ms Reeves is expected to make changes to the limit, first announced in 2015 by the Conservatives, in her autumn statement.
It has been reported the Treasury is looking at different options including whether additional benefits might be limited to three or four children, or whether there could be a taper rate meaning parents would receive the most benefits for their first child and less for subsequent children.
Ms Powell said: “I think what we’ve all been talking about recently is the urgency of that now, because every year that passes with this policy in place, another 40,000 minimum, 40,000 children, are pushed into deep levels of poverty as a result of it and that’s why it is urgent that we do lift it and we lift it in full.”
Her comments could cause a headache for the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who have recently heightened expectations that the November 26 Budget will feature an increase in the basic rate of income tax.
Doing so would mean ditching Labour’s commitment to voters ahead of last year’s general election not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.
Ms Reeves could use a 2p rise in income tax to help plug what the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said is a £50 billion black hole in the nation’s public finances and give herself a larger fiscal headroom.
Ms Powell won the deputy leadership race after a campaign based on a call for the party to change course.
Her intervention will be seen as evidence that she will use her position to speak out against Sir Keir’s administration’s policies, which she is free to do from the back benches, unlike her defeated deputy leadership rival, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is bound by collective responsibility.
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) forwarded a summary to the federal government suggesting an increase of Rs4.39 per liter in petrol price for the next fortnight.
After approval from the federal government, one liter of petrol will be sold at Rs257.56 instead of Rs253.17 per liter.
The price of high-speed diesel (HSD) will be increased by Rs5.40 per liter.
After approval, the price of one liter of high-speed diesel will increase by Rs268.38 to Rs273.78.
The proposal to increase the price of kerosene by Rs4 per liter is also on the cards.
The OGRA also recommended increasing the price of one liter of light diesel by Rs6.55.
The new prices of petroleum products will be effective from February 16, 2026.
Due to tension between the USA and Iran, petroleum prices are likely to increase further.
The group, based in Solihull and Wolverhampton, says its vet bills are costing them more.
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RBI releases draft to revise Kisan Credit Card Scheme, standardizing crop cycles, extending loan tenure to six years, and aligning credit limits with cultivation costs.
From Crop Cycles To Loan Tenure: 4 Key Changes In RBI’s KCC Proposal
Kisan Credit Card Scheme: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released draft directions to revise the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme, aiming to expand coverage, streamline operations, and align credit norms with evolving agricultural needs.
Standardized Crop Cycles And Extended Loan Tenure
As outlined in the draft, crop seasons have been standardized to introduce uniformity in loan sanctioning and repayment schedules. Short-duration crops will now be treated under a 12-month cycle, while long-duration crops will follow an 18-month cycle.
Example:
A farmer growing paddy or wheat (harvested in a few months) will follow a 12-month loan cycle.
A farmer growing sugarcane (which takes 12–18 months) will get an 18-month cycle.
To better align loan tenure with these crop cycles, especially for longer-duration crops, the overall tenure of the KCC facility has been extended to six years. The move is expected to provide farmers with greater flexibility in repayment and reduce rollover pressures.
Example:
If a farmer growing sugarcane faces a bad monsoon in Year 2, he doesn’t have to rush repayment immediately. The 6-year window gives more breathing space and reduces pressure to take fresh loans to repay old ones.
The draft directions apply to Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Regional Rural Banks, and Rural Co-operative Banks, indicating a system-wide implementation once finalized.
Drawing Limits Linked To Cost Of Cultivation
The RBI has proposed aligning drawing limits under the KCC scheme with the scale of finance for each crop season . This adjustment aims to ensure that farmers receive credit in line with the actual cost of cultivation, addressing concerns around under-financing.
Example:
If growing cotton in a district costs Rs 60,000 per acre (as per agriculture department data), banks will align KCC limits accordingly — instead of giving a lower, outdated amount like Rs 40,000.
In addition, the draft expands eligible components under the KCC framework. Expenses related to technological interventions—such as soil testing, real-time weather forecasts, and certification for organic or good agricultural practices—have been included within the existing 20% additional component earmarked for repairs and maintenance of farm assets .
Example:
If a farmer wants to:
- Test soil before sowing
- Subscribe to real-time weather alerts
- Get organic farming certification
These costs can now be covered under KCC instead of paying from pocket.
What Is Kisan Credit Card Scheme?
The Kisan Credit Card scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window with flexible and simplified procedures to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs.
The KCC scheme was introduced in 1998 for the issue of Kisan Credit Cards to farmers on the basis of their holdings for uniform adoption by the banks so that farmers may use them to readily purchase agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. and draw cash for their production needs.
KCC covers post-harvest expenses, produce marketing loan, consumption requirements of farmer households, working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture, investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities.
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February 14, 2026, 12:49 IST
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