23 minutes ago Top Labour minister drops major Budget hint over tax increase: Wes Streeting claims party 'did not rule out' hitting firms with NICs rise

The Health Secretary said that the party had not ruled out upping the NICs made by businesses before being elected, as Rachel Reeves faces accusations of ripping up a manifesto pledge.

Politics

1 hour ago Government minister refuses to rule out extending income tax threshold freeze

Rachel Reeves is due to deliver her budget at the end of the month

Politics

7 hours ago Rachel Reeves issued Budget warning not to 'hollow out' energy jobs in Scotland

Union bosses have called on the Labour Chancellor to protect energy jobs in Scotland and increase funding for SNP ministers.

Events

13 hours ago UK faces ‘make or break moment’ in Budget as Swinney calls for spending

The Chancellor will present the Budget on October 30.

Economics

17 hours ago Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces '£9billion NHS black hole' as Budget looms

Government insiders have warned that without extra funding at the Budget the NHS funding gap would see millions of patients' appointments, scans and operations cancelled

Economics

20 hours ago Reeves plans stealth taxes as Starmer prepares to splurge billions on NHS

Rachel Reeves is considering a range of taxes in the Budget to fill a £40 billion black hole in Labour’s spending commitments but the prime minister is ready to announce billions of extra money for the NHS

Economics

21 hours ago Macron’s business policies made him ‘president of the rich’. Rachel Reeves, beware | Phillip Inman

The chancellor rightly wants to stimulate the economy by boosting growth. But she would be unwise to do it at the expense of the poorestThere is a danger that Labour will suffer the Macron effect when the budget is unveiled at the end of the month. Emmanuel Macron, who was first elected president of France in 2017, put business investment and building a culture of entrepreneurialism at the top of his to-do list – only to be condemned later as a friend of the rich.Rachel Reeves speaks a similar language when she says economic growth is her priority and that business people should be offered more support than even the Tories were prepared to countenance. Continue reading...

Politics

23 hours ago Voices: Labour were right to break their promise on taxes – we should all be paying more

... and the Conservatives are the last people who can complain, writes John Rentoul

Economics

26 hours ago Starmer denies election pledges will be broken as Reeves plans stealth taxes

Rachel Reeves is considering a range of taxes in the Budget to fill a £40 billion black hole in Labour’s spending commitments

Politics