Brexit had bigger impact on UK economy than critics predicted, Rachel Reeves says

Brexit had an even bigger impact on Britain’s economy than critics predicted, Rachel Reeves has said, as ministers have become increasingly bold in blaming the dire state of the nation’s finances on the decision to leave the European Union.

It comes with just over a month to go until the Budget, where the chancellor is expected to announce a swathe of tax rises to fill a financial black hole of up to £50bn and pin a portion of the blame on Nigel Farage and Brexit.

The chancellor told a regional investment summit in Birmingham that the UK’s exit from the EU “needlessly” added costs to businesses, saying ministers are now “unashamedly rebuilding our relations” with the bloc.

Treasury officials are bracing for the OBR to lower its forecasts for productivity growth – a downgrade that is likely to create an extra shortfall of around £20bn. The shortfall is expected to be filled by a swathe of tax rises.

The PM and chancellor are reportedly planning to argue that this downgrade would not have happened were it not for Brexit, pinning the blame on the Reform leader for leading the campaign to take Britain out of the EU.

As the chancellor was speaking in Birmingham, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey was warning that echoes of the 2008 financial crash are being seen in today’s economy.

Mr Bailey told a Lord committee that recent events in US private credit markets have worrying similarities with the sub-prime mortgage crisis that triggered the financial crash.

He suggested the collapse of US car parts maker First Brands and auto dealership Tricolor could represent “the canary in the coal mine”, adding: “Are they telling us something more fundamental about the private finance, private asset, private credit, private equity sector, or are they telling us that in any of these worlds there will be idiosyncratic cases that go wrong?

“I think that is still a very open question; it’s an open question in the US.”

Mr Bailey added: “I don’t want to sound too foreboding, but the added reason this question is important is if you go back to before the financial crisis when we were having this debate about sub-prime mortgages in the US, people were telling us: ‘No it’s too small to be systemic; it’s idiosyncratic.’ That was the wrong call.”

Speaking about the upcoming Budget at the Birmingham summit, Ms Reeves said: “I don’t think that the past has to define our future. That’s why we are doing things differently.

“That’s why we are deregulating. It’s why we’re overturning the planning system. It’s why we are backing all regions of the UK with the capital spending that we’re putting in.

“Because I’m determined to defy those projections [from the OBR] and grow our economy quicker.”

She added: “We also know – and the OBR, I think, is going to be pretty frank about this – that things like austerity, the cuts to capital spending and Brexit, have had a bigger impact on our economy than even was projected back then.

“That’s why we are unashamedly rebuilding our relations with the European Union to reduce some of those costs that were, in my view, needlessly added to businesses since 2016 and since we formally left a few years ago.”

On Wednesday, inflation is expected to increase to its highest level for 21 months – piling even more pressure on both the chancellor and the Bank of England.

Economists have predicted Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation will have hit 4 per cent in September, when the Office for National Statistics reveals its latest data on Wednesday – the highest level since January 2024.

It comes just weeks after Ms Reeves used her Labour conference speech to warn of “harsh global headwinds” battering Britain’s economy, as she failed to dispel fears over major tax rises in November.

And speaking at the G30 40th annual International Banking Seminar over the weekend, Mr Bailey warned that Brexit will have a negative impact on the UK’s economic growth “for the foreseeable future”, highlighting a decline in the UK’s potential growth rate from 2.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent over the past 15 years.

He linked the decline to lower productivity growth, an ageing population and trade restrictions – including post-Brexit economic policies.

Ms Reeves’ latest comments come amid a growing trend of government ministers becoming more bold in their criticism of Brexit, with health secretary Wes Streeting last week saying he is delighted that the government can now speak about the problems caused by Britain’s exit from the EU.

“I’m glad that Brexit is a problem whose name we now dare speak”, the health secretary said on a panel at the Cliveden Literary Festival.

“This has been my frustration about it … We were warned it was going to have an economic impact, and it has. And it’s hit our country hard, so we’re having to deal with Brexit.”

British grandmother sentenced to death in Bali to be sent back to UK after 12 years in prison

A British grandmother who was sentenced to the death penalty for drug-trafficking will be freed from one of Indonesia’s most notorious prisons and returned to the UK, ending a 12-year ordeal for her family.

Lindsay Sandiford, 69, could be free to return home from Bali on Tuesday after an Indonesian government source told AFP that an agreement had been reached with the UK government.

“The practical arrangement will be signed today. The transfer will be done immediately after the technical side of the transfer is agreed,” the source said.

Shahab Shahabadi, a 35-year-old British national who was arrested in 2014 and later imprisoned on drug charges, will also be released.

Sandiford, from Teesside, was arrested at Bali airport in 2012 after customs officers discovered a haul of cocaine worth an estimated £1.6m in a hidden compartment of her suitcase when she arrived from Thailand. She was sentenced to death the following year.

Sandiford claimed that a British gang had forced her to smuggle drugs from Thailand to Bali and threatened to kill one of her two sons if she refused to cooperate.

Indonesia has some of the strictest drug laws in the world, with multiple foreign nationals facing death row over the years for drug offences.

A statement by the Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction confirmed a press conference was scheduled later on Tuesday to announce the “release of two British nationals”.

Sandiford has been held in the Kerobokan Prison, one of Indonesia’s worst jails that holds 1,000 more inmates than the 357 it was built for in 1979.

ABC News said in a 2017 report from inside Kerobokan that almost 80 per cent of its prisoners are in on drug charges.

Kerobokan has seen several riots in the past decade alone, some of them deadly.

The New York Times reported that staff are bribed by wealthier inmates to give them drugs and even let them out on trips.

While the prison is high-security, breakouts have occurred. Notably, in 2017 four foreign inmates escaped by digging a 50ft tunnel under the prison walls from an open courtyard.

The prison saw another major breakout in 1999 when prisoners set fire to their mattresses and overwhelmed the guards trying to contain the flames. Almost 300 prisoners escaped.

At the time of Sandiford’s arrest, there were 90 prisoners awaiting execution in Kerobokan.

Indonesia’s strict laws surrounding drug trafficking have resulted in international tensions with other countries.

In 2015, Jakarta faced a diplomatic crisis when two Australians convicted as part of a heroin smuggling squad were executed by firing squad.

Sandiford launched an appeal to have her sentence reduced, but it was rejected, which is often the case for drug appeal cases in Indonesia.

Why the chocolate we’re eating isn’t really chocolate anymore

In Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Violet Beauregarde chews a stick of gum that tastes like tomato soup, roast beef and blueberry pie. It’s a miracle of flavour engineering – until it turns her into a blueberry. Pleasure without substance always has consequences.

Now, the same thing is happening in Britain’s chocolate aisle. Two of the nation’s best-loved chocolate biscuits – Penguin and Club – are no longer legally chocolate. Their coatings contain so little cocoa that they’ve been quietly downgraded to “chocolate flavour”. The slogan that once promised “a lot of chocolate on your biscuit” has been rewritten to “a lot of biscuit in your break”.

The change, according to McVitie’s owner Pladis, was made to “minimise the impact of rising costs on consumers”. Its new coating swaps cocoa butter for palm and shea oils. Under UK law, a product must contain at least 20 per cent cocoa solids or cocoa butter to be described as chocolate – which feels like a suspiciously low, well, bar. You wouldn’t get away with selling a chicken breast that was 80 per cent filler, although, give it time and someone probably will.

They’re not alone. KitKat white and McVitie’s white digestives can no longer be labelled “white chocolate” either, while Wagon Wheels have long been sold as “chocolate flavour”.

For the past few years, Britain’s chocolate aisle has been the frontline of “shrinkflation” – the place you feel the squeeze most acutely. Christmas tubs are lighter, bars smaller, selection boxes dearer. Quality Street tubs have shrunk by 8.3 per cent, down from 600g to 550g, while the number of chocolates inside has fallen from around 63 to 57. Prices in Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have climbed 16.7 per cent, from £6 to £7. Cadbury Roses tins are 6.7 per cent lighter but 17.9 per cent dearer, and Terry’s Chocolate Orange has dropped from 157g to 145g, while rising a third in price to £2 at Tesco. Even the large Toblerone has been trimmed from 360g to 340g, now selling for up to £7.

At this pace, by Christmas 2050, you’ll be handing over upwards of a tenner for a festive rattle – contents: air.

We’ve grown used to this kind of arithmetic. Shrinkflation has been the soundtrack to every festive season since the cost of living crisis began. But this year, the equation’s shifted again: prices are still up, packets are still lighter, but what’s inside them isn’t even chocolate anymore. And most of us haven’t noticed.

Cocoa has become one of the most volatile commodities on Earth. In April 2025, prices on the London Cocoa Futures market hit £10,265 a tonne, up from £2,205 the year before – a 365 per cent rise, according to Which?. Over the same period, there was a 15.4 per cent annual rise in chocolate prices by August 2025, even as overall food inflation cooled.

At the same time, Britons spent £5.9bn on chocolate in the year to August, up 10 per cent, yet actually bought 2 per cent less of it… If it was even chocolate at all. That paradox – paying more, getting less – has become the story of the British economy. But now there’s a third act: paying the same for something fundamentally different to what it says on the tin.

This isn’t simply about profit margins. Cocoa really is running out. Three consecutive years of extreme weather have devastated harvests in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, which together produce around two-thirds of the world’s supply. Drought, flooding and fungal disease have slashed Ghana’s output by about 30 per cent, while the Ivory Coast recorded its lowest in nearly a decade.

Worldwide Gourmet Foods, which supplies confectionery and bakery producers, says cocoa butter and powder prices have “more than doubled”, forcing manufacturers to use compound coatings – blends of palm kernel, coconut and shea oils that mimic chocolate’s gloss and snap for less.

Cocoa trees are delicate: they grow only 20 degrees of the equator, thrive on humidity and are highly vulnerable to disease. The International Cocoa Organisation warns that without replanting and better disease control, shortages could persist for years.

This is what economists call a “non-price adjustment”: instead of charging more, companies alter the product itself. It’s happening across supermarket aisles, but chocolate perhaps shows it best. You think you’re buying the same bar, but the cocoa has been cut, the fats replaced, the flavour engineered to trick your taste buds into nostalgia.

Pladis insists its sensory testing shows “the same great taste as the originals”. Nestlé says its recipes balance “quality, affordability and sustainability”. Both statements are technically true. But the result is a confectionery aisle that no longer reflects inflation alone – it reflects scarcity.

For decades, the chocolate has been a barometer of the cost of living. Now, it’s a warning sign of something deeper: a food system under pressure from a changing climate.

Yet the real loss isn’t just cultural or economic. It’s chemical. What’s replacing cocoa isn’t just cheaper – it’s worse for us.

Cocoa butter, despite being high in saturated fat, is mostly stearic acid, which is neutral for cholesterol. Palm kernel and hydrogenated vegetable oils, by contrast, are heavier in lauric and myristic acids, which raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

A 2020 review in the Journal of Lipids found that replacing cocoa butter with vegetable fats “alters the fatty-acid composition and could increase a product’s atherogenic potential” – in other words, its tendency to raise cholesterol and contribute to artery-clogging plaque. Cocoa solids also contain antioxidant flavanols linked to cardiovascular and cognitive health, compounds lost when the cocoa is cut.

In short, the bars may look and taste familiar, but nutritionally, they’re emptier.

So why don’t we notice? Because we don’t want to. Taste memory is powerful – we expect a Penguin to taste like the Penguin of our childhood, and our brains do the rest. Psychologists call it “sensory expectation”: the brand triggers a memory, and the memory fills in the flavour.

Chocolate, after all, isn’t just food. It’s a treat, a ritual, a small promise of normality. Amid a cost of living crisis, that familiarity matters more than ever. As long as the wrapper looks the same, most of us won’t question what’s inside.

But the shift from “a lot of chocolate on your biscuit” to “a lot of biscuit in your break” still feels symbolic. A quiet admission that we’ve learnt to settle for less.

The cocoa crisis is a preview of what’s coming for other indulgences: coffee, vanilla, almonds, even wine. Like cocoa, these crops depend on stable climates that no longer exist. Cocoa just reached its breaking point first.

For manufacturers, reformulation isn’t just a money-grabbing exercise. It’s survival. For consumers, it’s a glimpse into a future where familiar flavours are re-engineered from cheaper crops. And where imitation gradually becomes normal.

Willy Wonka once dreamed of a sweet that could last forever – an Everlasting Gobstopper, infinite and unchanged. Today’s chocolate isn’t far off: designed to taste the same, no matter what’s inside. But flavour, like truth, can only be stretched so far.

We’ve become a nation of Violet Beauregardes, chewing on the memory of chocolate, not the real thing. And if we keep doing it, we might just turn blue ourselves.

Spitting Image sued after Paddington Bear depicted as cocaine smuggler

Court documents have shed more light on a row between the owners of Paddington Bear and the satirical show Spitting Image.

Paddington’s owners want a “frightening” puppet used on the TV show delivered to them or destroyed, the documents show.

StudioCanal, which makes the Paddington films, and Paddington and Company are bringing legal action against Avalon, Spitting Image’s producer, at the High Court in London.

The claimants, alongside two of author Michael Bond’s relatives, are alleging copyright infringement in four Spitting Image episodes called The Rest is Bulls*!t, which are available on YouTube.

They also allege copyright infringement in a trailer for the Spitting Image musical.

In a court document, their lawyers claim that a puppet with “all the features of the appearance of Paddington” is used in a derogatory way in the episodes.

The court was told that a puppet with bulging, bloodshot eyes or dishevelled fur is called Paddington, who is said to be from Peru, and references marmalade.

“The Avalon puppet depicts the Paddington character with a frightening demeanour,” barrister Tom St Quintin continued in the document.

Mr St Quintin claimed that the episodes show Paddington as a cocaine user, with one of the episodes also depicting the bear as a cocaine smuggler, an alcoholic, and a user of heroin, while another shows Paddington “as a promoter of gun sales and sex robots”.

Three episodes depict Paddington as a user of “coarse language”, the barrister added, with each episode said to use an accent for the puppet that mocks Peruvian people.

He later told the court the episodes were a “distortion or mutilation” of the portrayal of Paddington in the books, where the bear is described as polite, well-meaning and truthful.

The companies are seeking an injunction, as well as an order requiring the delivery of the puppet or the destruction of it, and potential damages.

Avalon has not yet filed a defence to the claim.

However, Spitting Image co-writer Al Murray previously told the Radio Times that he and fellow writer Matt Forde were “baffled” by the legal action.

He said: “It’s a very Spitting Image thing to do – to take someone and say: ‘Hey, maybe they’re the opposite.’”

In a video posted to the Spitting Image YouTube channel earlier this month, a puppet depiction of the Duke of Sussex asks “Pads” what he makes of the legal letters.

The second puppet appears to use a piece of paper to ingest white powder, before saying: “Paddington goes to party town.”

“Do remember to like and subscribe before Paddington gets cancelled,” the Harry puppet later says.

Paddington, first published in 1958, has seen a number of adaptations over the years, including a BBC TV version in 1976 voiced by the late Sir Michael Hordern.

StudioCanal’s films were released in 2014, 2017 and 2024, and a musical adaptation is due to launch in London with a preview on 1 November.

Man who plotted to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby loses sentence appeal

A security guard who plotted to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby has lost a Court of Appeal challenge against his sentence.

Gavin Plumb was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years in July last year after being unanimously convicted of soliciting murder and encouraging or assisting others to rape and kidnap the former This Morning presenter.

The 38-year-old’s kidnap plans involved attempting to “ambush” Ms Willoughby at her family home, with Plumb telling others he would then take the presenter to another location, which he suggested would be a “dungeon”-type room.

Sentencing him, Mr Justice Murray said that Plumb had an “unhealthy sexual obsession” with Ms Willoughby, who has waived her right to anonymity in the case, and said that some of Plumb’s plans were “particularly sadistic, brutal and degrading”.

At a hearing on Tuesday, barristers for Plumb said his sentence was “manifestly excessive” and should be reduced.

The Crown Prosecution Service opposed the appeal bid, with its barristers telling the court in London that the offending had “life-changing consequences” for Ms Willoughby.

Dismissing the appeal, Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Spencer and Ms Justice Norton, said they had concluded that it was “ultimately unpersuasive”.

Plumb, who adopted the user name Big Bear to chat to others about his plot online, appeared to formulate his fantasy as early as 2011, googling the phrase “how to meet people who plan to kidnap celebs”.

He told others he would then take the presenter to another location, which he suggested would be a “dungeon”-type room, with the jury told that he checked out an abandoned stud farm with cells to “keep” Ms Willoughby.

His messages also showed how he planned to rape her at the location before killing her and then putting her “into a lake at night”.

Plumb was caught after a US undercover police officer from the Owatonna Police Department in the US state of Minnesota infiltrated an online group called Abduct Lovers.

He told the officer, who used the pseudonym David Nelson, that he was “definitely serious” about his plot to kidnap Ms Willoughby, leaving the officer with the impression that there was an “imminent threat” to her.

The officer became so concerned about Plumb’s posts that evidence was passed to the FBI, with US law enforcement then contacting police in the UK.

Essex Police then raided his flat in Harlow and found bottles of chloroform and an “abduction kit” complete with cable ties.

When he was arrested on 4 October 2023, and officers told him that the allegations concerned Ms Willoughby, Plumb told them: “I’m not gonna lie, she is a fantasy of mine.”

Plumb had argued in his defence at trial at Chelmsford Crown Court that his plans were just online chat and fantasy, but Mr Justice Murray said that he had “no doubt that this was all considerably more than a fantasy to you”.

Following the jury returning its verdicts, Ms Willoughby said in a statement: “As women, we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes.”

At the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said that the offences had had a “catastrophic impact” on Ms Willoughby, stating: “The extent of the shock and fear caused by this offending has been impossible to convey.”

On Tuesday, Sasha Wass KC, for Plumb, said the sentence was “far too long and it properly could have been reduced considerably”, and “cannot have reflected the mitigation that was present”.

She continued that there was “no suggestion of lasting psychological harm” to Ms Willoughby.

Plumb did not attend the hearing either in person or remotely.

Ms Morgan, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the harm intended by Plumb was “of the very highest level”.

She said: “What else was the judge to do but conclude that the risk posed by this applicant from the facts of the offending and previous convictions could not be met with anything other than a life sentence?”

Hidden gem holidays: An insider guide to the Dominican Republic

The advent of autumn sees us thinking ahead to how to keep that sunshine feeling going through till winter; and there’s nothing better for keeping our spirits up than the idea of booking a holiday somewhere tropical. Enter the Dominican Republic, a warm and welcoming Caribbean nation perched to the south of the Turks and Caicos islands, and east of Jamaica. Known for its beautiful beaches, premium resorts and some legendary golf courses, there is, as the saying goes, genuinely something for everyone. If you want to make your holiday more than just a fly and flop, there’s plenty to explore, from Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s tallest mountain, to historic sites in the country’s lively capital, Santo Domingo.

But first, where’s the best place to stay? Consider Costa Esmeralda, in the Miches area on the Island’s northeastern coast, a picturesque and pristine stretch of sand fringed with coconut palms that lean over the calm, turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Neighbouring Punta Cana and the wider Bávaro area combine to form what’s known as La Costa del Coco, or the Coconut Coast, an area of lavish, all-inclusive hotels which is also popular for windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.

Base yourself at Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort Curio by Hilton, an oceanfront resort boasting 800-metres of secluded beach on the shores of Playa Esmeralda. Located just 90 minutes’ drive from Punta Cana International Airport, the emphasis here is firmly on fun and relaxation. It features six restaurants, six bars and lounges, four pools and several water slides, and for those who like to keep fit while away, there’s a pickleball court, a paddle tennis court, and a full-service fitness centre which offers yoga and pilates classes. The Acana spa aims to reconnect soul and spirit with therapies inspired by ancient traditions, while you’ll also find a daily programme of art and cultural activities, plus live nightly entertainment. Bringing the kids? They’ll love spending time at the Coki Cove Kids Club or Palmchat Teens Club.

There’s a choice of rooms, suites or bungalows, all tastefully decorated with Caribbean flair, and offering stunning views. Select accommodations even feature private plunge pools, and Club Azure and bungalow guests have access to additional dining options and a rooftop pool. Talking of dining, you’ll experience a world of flavour, with menus inspired by the traditions of the Caribbean, Thailand, and the Amalfi Coast; think spicy, street-food inspired dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and local favourites. All this, and unlimited drinks and cocktails, too!

What’s more, booking with British Airways Holidays means you can secure your holiday now with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments*. Once you’re ready to jet off, you can enjoy increased checked baggage allowance, a dedicated 24-hour helpline during your trip and the option of quality car hire with no hidden fees, 24-hour support and roadside assistance.

Upgrade to Club World and you’ll also get lounge access**, increased baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, and a spacious seat that converts to a fully flat bed. Members of The British Airways Club enjoy even more benefits in the form of collecting Avios (British Airways’ frequent flyer currency) and earning tier points, which unlock frequent flyer status and other benefits. Avios can also be used towards the cost of your holiday, presenting even greater value for money for members.

All this means you can totally relax during your stay at Hilton Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort, knowing you’re getting the quality and peace of mind you’d expect from a British Airways Holidays.

If you can tear yourself away from the resort – tough, we know – there’s lots to experience throughout the Dominican Republic. Take a day trip to Santo Domingo, one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities; its walled, cobblestoned, historic centre, the Zona Colonial, has impressive Spanish buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Gothic Catedral Primada de America and the Alcázar de Colón palace, which sits on the laid-back, cafe-lined Plaza de España. The latter is now one of the city’s many museums, displaying striking medieval and Renaissance art. In the pretty Parque del Este is the Faro a Colón, a large mausoleum and museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus, who landed on the island known as Hispaniola (now divided into the Dominican Republic and Haiti) in 1492. For a taste of life in bygone times, visit Altos de Chavón, a fascinating replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village, featuring art galleries and studios, boutiques and a striking amphitheatre.

Looking for something a little more adventurous? Get back to nature at Los Haitises National Park, where you can explore mangrove forests, caves and unique rock formations, or the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua, a series of tumbling falls perfect for swimming, splashing and jumping into. And don’t miss the incredible Hoya Azul, a cenote, or sinkhole, with crystal-clear, aquamarine waters; it’s located in Scape Park, a natural adventure park featuring lush jungles and jaw-dropping cliffs, where you can go zip-lining or explore the caves. There is whale watching in Samana Bay – humpback whales can be found here during their breeding season, January to March. While Lago Enriquillo, a salt lake with surrounding wetlands, is home to crocodiles and various bird species, including flamingos. All in all, your holiday to the Dominican Republic is guaranteed to be unforgettable; so get booking now!

British Airways Holidays packages include a generous baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your holiday to Hilton Zemi Miches Punta with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.

*Based on two sharing. Full balance due seven weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

**Subject to availability

Former police chief charged with fraud over military service claims

A former police chief has been charged with fraud and misconduct in public office after being accused of lying about his military service.

Nick Adderley, the former chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, allegedly made false claims during his application to join the force, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

The Crown Prosecution Service added that Adderley is also alleged to have lied about his educational achievements.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS’s Special Crime Division, said: “We have decided to prosecute former Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley with offences of fraud and misconduct in public office.

“This follows an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into claims made by Mr Adderley in reference to his military service and educational attainments.

“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with the Independent Office for Police Conduct as they carried out their investigation.”

Adderley will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 10.

The IOPC said the 59-year-old is alleged to have falsely claimed he was a former Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy and had served in the Falklands War.

The police watchdog said he is also accused of claiming he was entitled to wear associated service medals.

Adderley is alleged to have committed the offences between 2018 and 2024 – allegedly making the claims on his CV during his bid to become Northamptonshire Police’s chief constable in June 2018.

If convicted of fraud, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

The former police chief was dismissed from the force without notice in June, with his misconduct hearing being told he wore a South Atlantic Medal (SAM), awarded to British military personnel and civilians for service in the Falklands conflict.

The hearing also heard Adderley claimed on his CV and application form when applying to become chief constable that he had been in the Royal Navy for 10 years when he had served for only two.

His tribunal was told he lied about attending the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College for four years and had been a military negotiator in Haiti despite never visiting the country.

Stealth inheritance tax rises lead to record £4.4bn take for Treasury

The government pulled in £4.4bn from inheritance tax (IHT) in the past six months as more families were “quietly” pulled into the net, data from the Treasury shows.

The amount raised between April and September this year is up 2.3 per cent and is due to be a record for the government.

The boost to the Treasury coffers is in part due to frozen thresholds which have remained in place for years, meaning more and more people are being dragged into the bracket where tax is required to be paid.

Any estate – the total asset ownership of a person who dies – worth more than £325,000 is subject to tax above that limit. There are exemptions, such as passing a main home to children or grandchildren – called the residence nil rate band or RNRB – which gives an extra £175,000.

But the threshold has been frozen since 2009, and – with assets such as property, investments or even cash all growing in value – more people who would previously not have accumulated total estate wealth beyond that value are now doing so.

The upshot is that more tax is due upon death, with the standard IHT rate set at 40 per cent for values above thresholds.

The process is known as fiscal drag – similar to many workers being pulled into higher income tax brackets as wages rise, but band thresholds stay frozen.

Ian Dyall, head of estate planning at wealth managers Evelyn Partners, pointed out it was likely to be another record-breaking year of income for HMRC by way of IHT.

“The Treasury is on course for another record-breaking year of revenues from inheritance tax (IHT). Fiscal drag is quietly pulling thousands more families into the IHT net as asset values increase year-by-year,” he said.

Mr Dyall added that the upcoming Budget might see Rachel Reeves make further changes which affect IHT, such as reducing people’s ability to gift cash prior to death without as much tax being payable.

“Possibilities include a crackdown on gifting, which could take the form of a lifetime gifting cap replacing the current unlimited gifting rule under the seven-year exemption, or extending the seven-year rule out to ten or more years.

“The combination of unspent pension assets becoming subject to IHT, fears over possible restrictions to pension tax-free cash, and speculation that gifting rules could be tightened up, has caused some families to hastily withdraw pension cash and start giving it away.”

Most experts recommend not withdrawing pension lump sums in a hurry ahead of the Budget until financial advice has been sought and you are certain of your likely needs for retirement.

Rachael Griffin, tax and financial planning expert at Quilter, said the overall figures from government borrowing showed the Treasury remains reliant on taxing the same people even more.

“Today’s HMRC data offers a revealing snapshot of the public finances and how heavily the government continues to lean on fiscal drag to prop up revenues,” Ms Griffin said.

“The direction of travel suggests this burden could grow further. There is speculation that the government is considering changes to the gifting rules. Combined with the planned inclusion of pensions within IHT from 2027, these measures risk transforming what was once a niche tax affecting a small minority into one that captures an increasingly large share of the population.”

It is estimated that more than £3 trillion of assets is owned or held by those aged 55 and over in the UK.

Uncertainty over what exactly will be announced in the Budget has created a rush of questions to financial planners, over pensions but also businesses, home-buying and more potential long-term wealth transfer issues.

The housing market has not experienced its usual autumn surge this year, with some experts suggesting that it is also due to Budget uncertainty, leaving buyers in wait-and-see mode before spending.

Stephen Lowe, director at retirement specialists Just Group, added: “The Treasury now looks set to collect a fifth consecutive record annual haul. With further reforms that were announced at last autumn’s Budget yet to be implemented, we can expect this trend to continue and grow.

“Anyone who is uncertain or concerned that their estate may be subject to inheritance tax should get an up-to-date valuation of their estate, including a recent assessment of their property wealth. Estate planning is complex and difficult – especially with tinkering to the rules – and many families who wish to manage their estate efficiently will benefit from professional financial advice.”