Stability, Simplicity, And Support For Families And Businesses

As the Chancellor prepares to deliver the Autumn Budget on 26 November, leading lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are calling for bold action to support economic growth, simplify the tax system, and protect families and businesses across the UK.

Bryan Bletso: “Budget Must Bridge Britain’s Investment Gap”

Bryan Bletso, Head of International at Irwin Mitchell, highlights the importance of foreign direct investment (FDI) for the UK’s economic future. Drawing on the firm’s latest Investment Attractiveness Index, Bletso notes that while the UK’s appeal to overseas investors has improved, deep regional divides threaten balanced growth.

“The UK is clearly moving in the right direction. But unless we address the regional disparities in infrastructure, skills, and investment autonomy, we risk reinforcing the North-South divide. The Autumn Budget is a critical opportunity to turn policy into delivery,” said Bletso.

Irwin Mitchell recommends:

• Investing in regional infrastructure to support business growth and attract FDI
• Devolving economic powers to cities to tailor investment strategies
• Strengthening skills pipelines in high-growth sectorsEnsuring Investment Zones move from designation to delivery
• Promoting a stable and open business environment to boost investor confidence

Ute Mueller: “Certainty and Stability Are Essential for Overseas Investors”

Ute Meruell, Corporate Partner at Irwin Mitchell, stresses that many overseas buyers and investors are currently holding back until there is greater clarity on how UK organisations will be affected by upcoming policy changes.

“Certainty and stability are essential. We are seeing a lot of overseas buyers and investors pausing their decisions until they know how the organisations they are investing in will be impacted by the Budget and future government policy. The Chancellor has a real opportunity to send a clear signal that the UK remains a stable and attractive place to do business.”

Penny Cogher: “Be Bold and Scrap Salary Sacrifice on Pensions”

Penny Cogher, Pensions Partner, urges the Chancellor to abandon plans for a £2,000 cap on salary sacrifice for pension contributions and instead abolish the practice entirely.

“A £2,000 cap is a recipe for confusion. Payroll teams already struggle with pension administration, and adding this limit will increase complexity and cost without delivering meaningful benefits. Rather than tinkering with limits, the Chancellor should be bold and abolish salary sacrifice for pensions altogether. That would put all employers and employees back on a fair playing field.”

Clare Wiseman: “Protect Family Clients from Harmful Tax Changes”

Clare Wiseman, National Head of Family Law at Irin Mitchell, hopes the Budget will maintain current tax-free cash allowances for pensions, which are often vital for unlocking liquidity in divorce settlements. She also calls for no adverse changes to stamp duty, warning that increases could prevent clients from being able to rehouse after divorce.

Helen Hutchison: “Stamp Duty Reform Must Avoid Cliff Edges and Added Complexity”

Helen Hutchison, Partner in the Residential Property team, acknowledges the need for reform of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) but cautions against changes that could create cliff edges for buyers, sellers, and the wider industry.

“Whilst Stamp Duty is in much need of reform, it is hoped that any changes introduced by the Budget will not impose cliff edges for buyers, sellers, and the industry in general. SDLT creates uncertainty for buyers, particularly around exemptions and reliefs, and as we have seen in the press recently, even Angela Rayner was found to have underpaid SDLT due to the complexity in this area. It has been mooted that the onus of SDLT may be put on the seller; however, this would seem controversial, given they would effectively have paid twice and could potentially deter downsizers.”

Andrea Jones: “Don’t Let Inheritance Tax Become the Most Inefficient Tax”

Irwin Mitchell’s Private Client Advisory team warns that planned reforms could make Inheritance Tax (IHT) the most expensive major tax for HMRC to collect. New figures show the cost of collecting £1 of IHT is now almost identical to that of Income Tax, and upcoming changes could push IHT’s cost of collection even higher.

“Major changes to Inheritance Tax are just around the corner, and there is little that can be done to prevent the additional complexity and cost these will bring. As we approach the Autumn Budget, now is the time for stability, not more tinkering,” said Andrea Jones, National Head of Irwin Mitchell’s Private Client Advisory Team.

From April 2026, a new £1 million cap on Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs will be introduced, increasing complexity and affecting more families than ever.