【每日晨读金融时报】09Sep2025 英语口语听力 附原文及实用单词短语

han­cel­lor Rachel Reeves has ordered Treas­ury offi­cials to exam­ine reforms to prop­erty tax­a­tion as she seeks ways to raise cash and boost the eco­nomy, say people famil­iar with the dis­cus­sions.

Offi­cials are look­ing at a host of pos­sible ideas for improv­ing and sim­pli­fy­ing the tax sys­tem, includ­ing by over­haul­ing levies on hous­ing, as Reeves seeks to lift lacklustre GDP growth and address a loom­ing gap in the pub­lic fin­ances that could exceed £20bn. The cur­rent stamp duty sys­tem, which applies in Eng­land and North­ern Ire­land, is cri­ti­cised by eco­nom­ists because it is charged on trans­ac­tions, act­ing as a dis­in­cent­ive to people mov­ing and sap­ping growth.

The pro­cess in the Treas­ury was at an early stage and no con­clu­sions had been drawn, the people said. But Reeves has told col­leagues she wants tax reform to be a big part of her autumn Budget.

The Treas­ury said: “The best way to strengthen pub­lic fin­ances is by grow­ing the eco­nomy — which is our focus. Changes to tax and spend policy are not the only ways of doing this . . . We are com­mit­ted to keep­ing taxes for work­ing people as low as pos­sible.”