Branch Falls Near Mail Journalists Covering UK Budget

A large tree branch fell near Daily Mail journalists while they were reporting on the upcoming UK Budget in Green Park, narrowly missing a cameraman.

Political correspondent Christian Calgie and cameraman Aiden Smith were filming for the Daily Mail outside the Treasury when the incident occurred. The branch struck Smith, who sustained a bleeding cut to his forehead but continued filming for another hour. The event happened minutes into their shoot on October 23, 2026.

The report was intended to outline the challenges Chancellor John Healey faces ahead of the first Budget of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's premiership, scheduled for the following Wednesday. Key concerns for voters include the cost of energy, with recent reductions in VAT on household electricity reportedly negated by rising gas and oil prices.

Chancellor Healey is expected to announce further tax measures, though Burnham has indicated adherence to manifesto pledges not to increase income tax, National Insurance, or VAT. Official modeling suggests that raising Capital Gains Tax could be counterproductive and result in a loss of revenue for the Treasury, potentially alienating hard-left Labour backbenchers.

Other areas are being considered for new levies to fund government spending. Potential measures include a significant tax on banks and a freeze on income tax thresholds, which have not been adjusted since 2021. This could result in more taxpayers moving into higher tax brackets.

Additionally, property owners could face new taxes. Healey is reportedly considering lowering the threshold for a property tax on higher-value homes from £2 million to £1.5 million, which would bring an estimated 200,000 additional family homes into the scope of the levy. The Machine Games Duty on gambling machines is also reportedly set to double to 40 percent, despite warnings that this could also lead to revenue losses for the Treasury.