Rachel Reeves delivered a cost of living boost to millions of working people. While forced to impose a wave of tax hikes – some that will inevitably impact ordinary households – she went out of her way to deliver help where after years of punishing pay squeezes under the Tories. The UK’s first female Chancellor summed up her Budget speech by claiming she had made the “right choices”. One of those that took many by surprise was the decision not to extend a freeze on personal tax thresholds.