Economy

Target pensions or welfare, not banks, IMF tells John Healey

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 16/10/2026, 16:05:25 UTC.

Briefings

The IMF advises UK Chancellor John Healey to prioritize pension and welfare savings over bank taxation during the upcoming budget. Helge Berger, IMF's European deputy director, was consulted regarding this recommendation after the Guardian reported Healey's plan to raise taxes on banks. The evidence indicates a shift in fiscal strategy from direct bank levies to social security funding, though specific tax rates and revenue figures are not provided.

Key points

• The IMF recommends targeting pension and welfare savings rather than bank taxes for the upcoming UK budget.
• Helge Berger, IMF's European deputy director, was consulted after the Guardian reported Healey's plan to raise taxes on banks.

Context

The International Monetary Fund has urged UK Chancellor John Healey to prioritize savings on pensions and welfare instead of taxing Britain's banks at the budget later this month. Helge Berger, deputy director of the IMF's European department, was asked about bank taxes after the Guardian revealed Healey plans to tap the sector for additional revenue.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to the IMF's recommendation and the Guardian's reporting of Healey's plan. Specific tax rates, revenue figures, or dates are not provided. The article does not contain preprint status or uncertainty markers.

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