<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">  <channel>    <title>Lancashire Evening Post Budget 2026</title>    <link>https://www.lep.co.uk/topic/budget-2026/rss</link>    <description>Visit now for the latest news direct from Lancashire Evening Post Budget 2026 and updated throughout the day</description>    <language>en-gb</language>    <copyright>Copyright 2026, Iconic Media Group Ltd</copyright>    <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:07:10 GMT</pubDate>    <dc:date>2026-10-29T11:07:10Z</dc:date>    <dc:language>en-gb</dc:language>    <dc:rights>Iconic Media Group Ltd or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026</dc:rights>    <atom:link rel="self" href="https://www.lep.co.uk/topic/budget-2026/rss" type="application/rss+xml" />    <link rel="hub" href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" />        <item>          <title><![CDATA['It's about bloody time':  Lancashire mayor on the horizon after government budget announcement]]></title>          <link>https://www.lep.co.uk/news/politics/lancashire-mayor-devolution-budget-2026-9316858</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>The government will enter “final-stage” negotiations with the county.</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:11:37 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9316858</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.lep.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2026/10/28/12/46/Lancashire-flag-and-cash-collage.jpeg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;trim=167%2C0%2C167%2C0" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>Adobe</media:credit>                    </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Faulkner]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-10-28T19:11:37+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category><category><![CDATA[News]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Autumn Budget 2026 live: The key changes announced and what they mean for you]]></title>          <link>https://www.lep.co.uk/news/live-updates-budget-2026-9314619</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>Cost of living, defence, and the national economy are all on the agenda for this year’s autumn budget.</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:08:30 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9314619</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjAwMDMxMjBkLTViYTgtNDQzMy1iZGUzLWFlNGVkYmY0MzIwYjozYzk2ZjhhMC0wYWQ2LTQ2ZmMtYTRlOS1mMDY5ODBiNDQyN2M=.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=3%3A2" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>Stefan Rousseau/Press Association</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Prime Minister Andy Burnham leaves 10 Downing Street, London, to attend Prime Minister&#039;s Questions and the Budget in the Houses of Commons. -  (Stefan Rousseau/Press Association)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Leslie Kerwin]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-10-28T19:08:30+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>        </item>  </channel></rss>