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

Exclusive: Charity hit by increase in employer national insurance and minimum wage and aims to save 26m

The National Trust is to cut at least 550 jobs in a cost-cutting drive that aims to save 26m after changes made in the chancellor Rachel Reeves's debut budget pushed up labour costs.

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