National Trust to cut at least 550 jobs after £10m rise in costs from Reeves’s budget

Exclusive: Conservation charity hit by employer national insurance and minimum wage bill aims to save £26m

The National Trust is to cut at least 550 jobs in efforts to save £26m after changes made in Rachel Reeves’s debut budget pushed up labour costs.

The conservation charity, which looks after 500 historic houses, castles, parks and gardens, said a rise of more than £10m in the cost of employer’s national insurance and the minimum wage in April had outstripped an increase in income from visitors.