Labour’s tax rises will not hit workers’ payslips, the education secretary has promised, as the government prepares to announce one of the most significant budgets in recent history next week. Bridget Phillipson said on Sunday morning that the tax rises being planned by Rachel Reeves would not affect employees’ take-home pay, as ministers struggle to explain what was meant by their manifesto pledge not to increase taxes on “working people”. The chancellor is expected to announce an increase to employers’ national insurance contributions on Wednesday in a move that could raise between £8.5bn and £20bn. However, ministers say this would