Financial specialists have argued Rachel Reeves is finalising a “lastminute.com” Budget days before its publication, raising concerns about the Government’s fiscal preparedness.

Experts said the run-up to next Wednesday’s announcement has been marked by uncertainty, including a series of policy leaks followed by apparent reversals.

They said the lack of clarity has contributed to a perception ministers are still adjusting major decisions shortly before the autumn statement.

The Chancellor has not yet outlined which tax or spending measures will appear in her second Budget.

This absence of detail has prompted warnings from industry figures who suggest the Government has not settled on a consistent economic plan.

Colette Mason, a consultant at Clever Clogs AI in London, said the situation felt “hashed together”.

She told the People’s Channel: “This absolutely feels like a ‘lastminute.com’ Budget. We are watching a Chancellor ‘vibe code’ the economy, leaking policies to gauge the backlash before committing the data.”

She contrasted the current process with previous fiscal announcements.

Ms Mason said: “Previous budgets were detailed ministerial roadmaps; this feels like we are crowdsourcing the destination (still written in pencil) in a shambolic policy popularity contest. Should the Government really be doing A/B split testing with the nation’s future?”

Darryl Dhoffer, founder of The Mortgage Geezer in Bedford, told Newspage the recent policy shifts indicated disorderly planning.

He said: “Welcome to the political amphitheatre. This whole Budget run-up has been less about calm choreography than ministers frantically reading the crowd’s temper to gauge sentiment.”

Mr Dhoffer said the Government appeared to retreat from certain proposals after internal criticism.

“You can’t help but feel that the final Budget script is still being frantically edited behind the scenes,” he said.

“A potential politically explosive Income Tax rise was swiftly and publicly abandoned due to the roar of dissent from the Chancellor’s own backbenches.”

He warned ministers may now be considering changes to tax thresholds.

Mr Dhoffer said: “This forced retreat proves the strategy was not fully set. The Chancellor has now been compelled to adopt a strategy of stealth and subterfuge.

“The focus appears to have shifted to freezing or lowering tax thresholds, a less obvious but arguably more damaging manoeuvre that drags millions into higher tax brackets via fiscal drag.”

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Ben Perks, from Orchard Financial Advisers in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, gave a similarly critical assessment.

He said: “The Chancellor still has her hand firmly stuffed down the back of the sofa in a desperate hunt to find a few more quid.”

Mr Perks believes the Government may have changed course in recent days.

He said: “I think the Government may have had the Budget nailed down when the Chancellor gave her curious pre-Budget speech earlier this month, but the public and media backlash have caused them to pivot in order to save their jobs.”

“I suspect nobody knows what will be announced in the Budget even today, including the Labour front benchers.”

Antonia Medlicott, from Investing Insiders in London, said: “I’ve never known the lead-up to any Budget to be quite as much of a rollercoaster ride.”

She questioned whether recent developments reflected deliberate strategy or disorganisation.

Ms Medlicott said: “I can’t claim to know whether there is a purposeful strategy behind all of the past few weeks’ leaking, pitch-rolling, u-turning and flip-flopping, but it’s only served to cause even more concern and confusion for a general public already exhausted by years of financial uncertainty and worry.”

She said Treasury preparations remained unclear.

Ms Medlicott said: “Perhaps there is a great master plan that will be unveiled to us on Wednesday, but right now, it certainly seems like there’s still a blank Word document open at the Treasury.”

Kate Underwood, from Kate Underwood HR and Training in Southampton, compared the situation to theatre.

Ms Underwood said: “With less than a week to go, this Budget is starting to feel more like a full-on pantomime than a serious plan. Has Rachel Reeves got it nailed down? Oh no she hasn’t.”

Patricia McGirr, from the Repossession Rescue Network in Burnley, Lancashire, offered a critical perspective on the Government’s preparation.

Ms McGirr said: “This doesn’t feel like a Budget nailed down.

“It feels lightly glued and held together with duct tape. If this were a Blue Peter project, we’d be looking at an egg-box Budget held up with sticky back plastic, not a fiscal plan built for a country under strain.”

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