34 h. ago MPs back package of workers’ rights reforms in ‘landmark’ Bill

MPs backed the Bill at its third reading 333 votes to 100, majority 233, and it will now undergo scrutiny in the House of Lords.

Economics

64 h. ago British Gas boss Chris O'Shea comes out in support of Labour's workers' rights reforms

Centrica chief executive Chris O'Shea has echoed his support for workplace shake-ups despite other business leaders claiming it will be “highly damaging”

Economics

65 h. ago Could Elon Musk bankroll a RIVAL to Reform? Trump ally linked to funding for a new right

The world's richest man is said to be mulling over financing for a new outfit, which could be led by former Reform MP turned Farage critic Rupert Lowe.

Politics

66 h. ago Martin Lewis issues 49 day alert to E.on, OVO, Octopus, British Gas, Outfox customers

Martin Lewis has issued an urgent warning to anyone on a fixed rate energy deal - and those who are considering getting one from the likes of E.on, Octopus, OVO, British Gas, Outfox the Market and SSE

Economics

3 d. ago One person in hospital but all crew accounted for after North Sea ships collide, says local MP – live

Graham Stuart says other 36 mariners across both crews are ‘safe and accounted for’Full story: UK coastguard scrambled after ship collisionTransport secretary Heidi Alexander has expressed concern about the collision and thanked emergency workers who are dealing with the situation.The Labour MP for Swindon South said “I’m concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops. I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Urgent £200 warning to British Gas, Octopus, Eon and OVO customers 'act now'

Brits across the nation have been issued a stark warning, ahead of Ofgem's incoming energy price cap. The 6.4 per cent hike could see your bills spiral by up to £200 a year, according to experts

Economics

3 d. ago Reeves's plan to cut welfare triggers a Labour revolt: Sickness benefits claimants face health checks and long

Labour MPs have been warning of 'deep concern' over 'draconian' curbs with details expected to be announced as soon as tomorrow.

Politics

3 d. ago Labour MPs revolt over £5bn welfare cuts as ministers say axed workers should get more benefits than long

Labour MPs have been warning of 'deep concern' over 'draconian' curbs with details expected to be announced as soon as tomorrow.

Economics

4 d. ago ‘If you fall into the dialogue of the far right, the far right wins’: Spain’s deputy PM on the need for workers’ rights

Yolanda Díaz Pérez’s leftwing government has championed employment reform similar to Labour’s proposals – and she tells British business there is nothing to fearSpain’s leftwing deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz Pérez, has a message for Labour politicians as the UK government’s employment rights bill takes its next step to becoming law this week: take heart from our success.With business groups in the UK issuing dire warnings about the impact of the workers’ rights package, Díaz, the minister of labour and social economy, remembers her own government’s battle when it thrashed out radical labour laws that came into force in 2022. “We went through nine months of hell, literally. We had the press against it, academia, research centres – everybody was saying this was going to contribute to unemployment and not eradicate it,” she recalls. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Workers who lose their jobs set be prioritised for benefits under Labour ministers' sweeping reforms to the welfare system

Ministers are creating a new, time-limited benefit for those who find themselves out of work after paying into the system, dubbed 'unemployment insurance'.

Politics

7 d. ago Rangers can have 'unforgiven' Jose Mourinho because Celtic boast a better boss in Brendan – Chris Sutton

The Portuguese superstar got tongues wagging in Glasgow when he waxed lyrical about the prospect of managing in the SPFL

Politics

9 d. ago Energy customers of Octopus, British Gas, and OVO urged to act before £110 bill hike

Last month, Ofgem confirmed that its price cap for April was to rise from £1,738 to £1,849 for the average dual-fuel household paying by direct debit - this is a rise of £111 a year, or £9.25 a month.

Economics

9 d. ago Expectant parents who suffer a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy to be granted a right to bereavement leave under new reforms

Parents are already granted bereavement leave in cases where they have lost a child or suffered a pregnancy loss after 24 weeks.

Politics

1 week ago Labour has humane and popular plans to stand up for UK workers. Why dilute them? | Gaby Hinsliff

Angela Rayner’s employment rights bill is precisely why many voted for this government. Why be embarrassed about a defining policy?One step forward, two steps back. Angela Rayner’s employment rights bill is back in the Commons this week, stuffed with ideas for improving everyday working life: that’s the big step forward for a government that was elected on a promise of radical change. The weekend headlines, however, were all about what won’t be changing after all. The so-called right to switch off – an early Rayner idea about legislating to prevent employees being pestered by out-of-hours calls and emails, which was already presumed dead due to not being in the bill – was ritually killed off once again for the Sunday papers, with a briefing that it still won’t be in the bill after fresh amendments are tabled on Tuesday.Presumably the idea was to reassure businesses fearful of extra regulatory burdens, on top of the looming April hike in employers’ national insurance. But since it’s ...

Politics

1 week ago In Pontypool, I saw the looming threat of Nigel Farage – and how Labour is playing into his hands | John Harris

Instead of bowing to rightwing populism, Starmer should take it on by rebuilding towns – and giving people the jobs and homes they craveThe south Welsh town of Pontypool doesn’t quite suggest a crucial political frontline. The town centre is full of imposing 19th- and 20th-century buildings that were created in a spirit of pride and optimism but have long since lain empty; local people talk about the shadow of the old iron and coal industries, and the fact that precious little ever came along to take their place. On the Monday afternoon I visited, the most forlorn sight was a huge mural of a local rugby crowd, lovingly sprayed on the exterior of a former discount store: a two-dimensional throng, put there to “inspire people to remember what Pontypool could be like as a thriving community”.Despite appearances, a significant watershed moment happened here recently. Like so much of south Wales, Pontypool has long been seen as a loyal Labour redoubt – but on 13 February, Reform UK gaine...

Events

1 week ago Labour set to axe workers' 'right to switch off': Plans to ban employers contacting staff outside of working hours to be scrapped in bid to boost economic growth after tax raid Budget

Plans to give staff the right to ignore bosses' messages outside of working hours will be dropped by the government this week.

Economics

1 week ago Why John Swinney is a greater Kremlin asset than Nigel Farage

Brian Wilson explains why he won’t be going along to John Swinney’s ‘Convention of the Righteous’ to oppose Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party

Politics

1 week ago SNP accused of trying to split unionist vote ahead of Scottish elections after Swinney demands alliance to 'lock out' Nigel Farage's 'far right' Reform Party

Professor Sir John Curtice hit out at Mr Swinney after he used a conference to demand the threat of the far-right - which he said included Reform - be blocked in Scotland.

Politics

2 w. ago Octopus, EON, EDF, OVO and British Gas customers warned to watch out for these three smart meter issues

Smart meters which are working properly should show how much energy has been used in a home.

Events

2 w. ago What are the cheapest energy deals as price cap set to rise in April?

Here are the cheapest energy deals as bills are set to rise again this April

Economics