# Portent of a Budget crash?

> Political journalist captures moment large branch breaks off while filming Budget challenges.
- Title: Portent of a Budget crash? · Dailymail | Shortify
- Summary: Political journalist captures moment large branch breaks off while filming Budget challenges. Daily Mail journalist Christian Calgie and cameraman Aiden…
- Keywords: daily mail, chancellor john healey, budget, labor government, taxes, political journalist, cameraman, westminster, dispatch box, vats, news, entertainment
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16229479/moment-large-branch-Mail-political-journalist.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-10-23T14:43:14+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: daily mail, chancellor john healey, budget, labor government, taxes, political journalist, cameraman, westminster, dispatch box, vats, news, entertainment
## Budget filming moment
Political correspondent Christian Calgie and cameraman Aiden Smith filmed around Westminster before a large branch crashed down on their equipment.
## Chancellor's Budget challenges
Chancellor John Healey faces tax hikes as energy costs rise and Labour government plans new levies.
## VAT cut wiped out
Recent VAT cut on household electricity bills is being wiped out by rising gas and oil prices.
## Chancellor's tax plans
Chancellor John Healey may freeze income tax thresholds for another year and lower property tax thresholds.
## Machine Games Duty
Chancellor plans to double Machine Games Duty to 40 percent despite warnings it could lose Treasury money.
## Property tax changes
Property tax threshold lowered from £2 million to £1.5 million affecting 200,000 homes.
## Banking challenges
Banks face £2 billion raid as Chancellor seeks new tax revenue sources.
## Labour government stance
Labour government promises to stick to Sir Keir Starmer's manifesto red lines on income tax, National Insurance and VAT.
## Capital Gains Tax
Chancellor risks anger of hard-left Labour backbenchers by rejecting calls to raise Capital Gains Tax.
## Tax revenue concerns
Official modelling suggests raising Capital Gains Tax would backfire and lose Treasury money.
## Energy costs impact
Rising gas and oil prices are wiping out recent VAT cuts on household electricity bills.
## Chancellor's challenges
Chancellor John Healey faces pressure to find new tax revenue sources amid economic uncertainty.
## Tax thresholds
Income tax thresholds may be frozen for another year, having not moved since 2021.
## Property tax impact
200,000 family homes could be added to property tax as threshold drops from £2 million to £1.5 million.
## Machine Games Duty
Chancellor plans to double Machine Games Duty to 40 percent despite warnings it could lose Treasury money.
## Budget timing
First Budget of Andy Burnham's premiership will be announced next week.
## Key takeaway

Daily Mail journalist Christian Calgie and cameraman Aiden Smith filmed a collapsing tree branch while reporting on Chancellor John Healey's upcoming Budget challenges.