22 h. ago Labour MPs face a serious dilemma on asylum seekers – but this is not the way out of it | Polly Toynbee

The party sees its harsh policies as politically necessary. But what happened to talking up the value of migrants for a thriving economy and society?This is how Labour MPs see it. They face brutal dilemmas and miserable choices. How to manage our asylum system is one of the worst. Through their constituency work, they will have met refugees with tragic stories of war and fear, of terrifying journeys across the world, of gangsters on night-time beaches. But MPs’ experience of hearing those heart-rending stories clash head-on with what they see as political necessity, demanding they block their ears and harden their hearts. A life in politics is not for the squeamish.Wes Streeting, a practising Christian, yesterday writhed while answering questions on LBC radio about the home secretary’s tough plans for deterring small boat arrivals. The flavour of his reply reflected how many on Labour’s benches feel. Confronted with the government’s intention to deport more families with children – ...

Events

50 h. ago Budget 2025: Millions of households expected to save £80 a year on one household bill

Brits will find out the full extent of Labour's plans for the economy when the Autumn Budget is delivered on November 26

Economics

62 h. ago Another day in Starmer's socialist paradise: What percentage of Britons think the economy is in a great state under Labour? ZERO

A shock YouGov poll ahead of next week's Budget found that zero per cent of Britons now believe the economy is in a 'very good state'. Only four per cent rated economic conditions as 'fairly good'.

Politics

5 d. ago Top Scottish Labour donor says UK Government 'getting it wrong' on the economy as tax rising Budget looms

EXCLUSIVE: The tycoon criticised Rachel Reeves' record on everything from inflation to unemployment.

Economics

8 d. ago Fears Labour's 'big tax' Budget will spark recession after economy stalls with GDP up just 0.1% in third quarter... but Reeves blames hackers

Analysts voiced alarm about the outlook after the UK eked out a paltry 0.1 per cent expansion of GDP in the third quarter of the year.

Economics

9 d. ago What about that growth drive, Chancellor? Labour stalls economy with GDP up just 0.1% in third quarter after dire September

UK plc eked out a 0.1 per cent GDP expansion in the third quarter of the year, worse than analysts had expected.

Politics

9 d. ago What about that growth drive, Chancellor? Labour stalls economy as GDP slumps to just 0.1% in first quarter after dire September

UK plc eked out a 0.1 per cent GDP expansion in the first quarter of the year, worse than analysts had expected.

Politics

1 week ago Another day in Starmer's socialist paradise! 1,000 jobs A DAY are now lost under Reeves with experts warning the 'madness' of Labour policies will see the crisis get even WORSE

More than 180,000 people have been left on the workplace scrapheap in the UK in the past year, with 64,000 of those coming in the last two months, according to official figures

Events

1 week ago Another day in Starmer's socialist paradise: 1,000 jobs a day are LOST under Reeves

Figures from the ONS revealed a spike in job losses as the Budget approaches, with a 64,000 decline in the number of payrolled workers over September and October and 180,000 over a year

Politics

2 w. ago There is a thriving shadow economy in Britain – but migrants are not to blame | Emily Kenway

While Labour is desperately trying to mimic Reform’s line on the cash economy, the blame lies solidly with ordinary people feeling the pinchAccording to politicians across all parties, something called the “hidden economy” – the shadowy nethers of the labour market, in which work goes unregulated and undeclared to the authorities – is a “menace”, full of migrants whose illegal working “undercuts British workers”, and even a threat to our national security. MPs have been so worried about asylum seekers delivering their Friday night pizza that they’ve spent parliamentary time discussing Deliveroo et al’s business models. In response, the government has repeatedly reassured us, in the somewhat Mills & Boon-style phrasing of Yvette Cooper, when she was home secretary, that it’s “surging enforcement” to tackle the problem.Solutions suggested include Keir Starmer’s digital ID cards, requirements for increased “right to work” checks, and new data-sharing agreements in which the Home Of...

Events

3 w. ago Panicking Reeves 'could cripple economy with 2p income tax hike'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves could effectively torch the Labour manifesto as analysts warn that she needs to fill a black hole in the public finances of up to £50billion.

Economics