27 m. ago Spending review live: Reeves to pledge £39bn to tackle housing crisis with boost to NHS and defence expected

Chancellor is set to unveil plans for all department funding today

Economics

31 m. ago Rachel Reeves says she ‘chooses investment’ ahead of unveiling Labour’s spending review – UK politics live

Chancellor will reveal how the government plans to spend almost £1.4tn in 2026-27, rising to almost £1.5tr in 2028-29Good morning. The government plans to be spending almost £1.4tr in 2026-27, rising to almost £1.5tr in 2028-29. Those annual limits are already agreed. Today, when Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, stands up at 12.30pm to present the spending review, she will explain how she has decided to divvy up that money between government departments over the next three years.This is not a budget, and she will not be announcing changes to tax policy. But it will feel like a budget because, like a budget, it will involve decisions that affect the public services people rely upon. And it is bound to intensify speculation about whether taxes will have to go up in the next budget, in the autumn.This government is renewing Britain. But I know too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it.This government’s task – my task – and the purpose of this Spending Review – i...

Politics

38 m. ago Minimum income requirement for family visas in UK should be lowered, review suggests

Campaigners call for ‘tax on love’ family visa income requirements to be scrapped

Politics

39 m. ago Schoolgirl rushed to hospital after being hit by car on busy Glasgow road

An 11-year-old girl has been rushed to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after being struck by a car in Glasgow.

Transport

49 m. ago US demands Britain DROPS sanctions on Israel ministers over Gaza action saying Hamas is 'real enemy'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the travel ban and asset freeze imposed on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich would not help to secure a ceasefire.

Politics

50 m. ago Consecration review – creepy nuns deliver the classic moves of holy terror very effectively

Purest hokum, of course, but what hokum! Real pride has gone into crafting this set of shocks, and it’s very well acted in beautiful locationsThis is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a wimple. In this well-crafted horror movie, a young woman called Grace (Jena Malone) finds herself up against a bunch of nuns who may or may not be trying to do something extremely dodgy with an unknown relic, and as with last year’s Omen prequel, there’s a nice line in casting here from the Ladybird Book of Horror Nuns. There’s dotty young nun who pops up going “peekaboo” (Eilidh Fisher), an arrogant mother superior (Janet Suzman), a hardliner weapon-of-Christ sort (Jolade Obasola), and the rather rarer spooky nun with one eye hidden behind an ominous white bandage (Alexandra Lewis). Their acting is uniformly excellent, as is that from Danny Huston, who plays a priest who introduces himself thusly: “I’m Father Romero, I’m here from the Vatican,” which announces him as probably up to no good...

Events

54 m. ago Scottish Whales and Dolphins 2025: These are the 8 breeds of cetacean most commonly found in Scottish waters

They are some of the most incredible creatures that live in our seas, and many can be seen on a journey to Scotland's coast.

Politics

61 m. ago Highland home where allied World War 2 spies hid out up for sale

Inverlair Lodge once housed members of The Special Operations Executive (SOE), an elite force set up to wreak havoc behind enemy lines in Europe.

Events

61 m. ago Live spending review updates as chancellor Rachel Reeves to announce plans

Wales' First Minister said she hopes 'something positive' will be announced for Wales

Politics

67 m. ago Therapy dog missing in Highlands for two weeks as owners continue 'relentless search'

Golden Retriever Louie is trained to alert the family when teen Ellie Lynn is about to have an epileptic seizure.

Events

85 m. ago Labour splashes the cash but who's going to pick up the bill? Brits warned of looming tax hikes as Rachel Reeves lays out 'unrealistic' spending plans TODAY

The Cabinet is set to sign off the spending review before the Chancellor announces the details in the Commons at lunchtime.

Economics

95 m. ago Why did Starmer and Reeves change tack on winter fuel payments? Every Labour U

The Independent looks at all the times Sir Keir Starmer has let voters down or outright U-turned on his promises on the journey from Labour leader to prime minister

Politics

97 m. ago Business news – live: FTSE 100 close to record high as stock markets open

Market reaction and business news on Wednesday ahead of the government’s spending review

Economics

1 hour ago Spending Review LIVE: Rachel Reeves to set out spending plans with more cash for NHS, housing and schools

There are fears the Chancellor’s spending review will see London miss out on key funding

Economics

2 h. ago Robbie Williams flies in on a rocket and brings out star guest in stunning Manchester Co

Death-defying stage dives, big anthems, and plenty of showbiz sparkle as Robbie Williams put on quite the show in Manchester's Co-op Live

Events

2 h. ago Rutherglen MSP welcomes £6.6 million of funding to reduce waiting times in Lanarkshire

This investment is part of the Scottish Government’s £200 million commitment in the Programme for Government to increase NHS capacity, reduce delayed discharge, and improve the flow of patients through hospitals.

Economics

2 h. ago Spending review latest: Reeves to pledge £39bn to tackle housing crisis with boost to NHS and defence expected

Chancellor is set to unveil plans for all department funding on Wednesday

Economics

2 h. ago Five key points in Rachel Reeves' spending review announcement

Rachel Reeves is to announce spending review with boosts for NHS, defence, and education

Politics

2 h. ago The Sexual Evolution by Nathan H Lents review – colourful tales of animal reproduction

From gay penguin parents to snake orgies, a biology professor looks at sexual adaptation in the animal world In 1998, Roy and Silo, a pair of male chinstrap penguins at Central Park Zoo in New York, were given an abandoned egg to incubate after zookeepers observed them performing mating rituals together. For 34 days, they took turns sitting on it. When the egg hatched, the story became a viral sensation. The New York Times celebrated “A Love That Dare Not Squeak Its Name”. Roy, Silo and their daughter Tango became the subject of a LGBTQ-friendly children’s book, And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell.Biology professor Nathan Lents remembers receiving copies of Tango as a gift when he and his husband became foster parents. Fast-forward to the present day, and Tango tops Pen America’s list of the most frequently banned picture books in the US. It was part of a high-profile lawsuit in Nassau County, Florida, and was designated for pulping by officials in...

Politics

2 h. ago Down by the river: a meditation on mental health – in pictures

During a period of deep personal turmoil, Marjolein Martinot took her camera down to the riverside in southern France – and began to feel connected again Continue reading...

Politics