6 d. ago I'm proud to ban Labour MPs from my pub. Now scores of hospitality bosses are doing the same: JAMES FOWLER

The very day before Rachel Reeves delivered her second catastrophic Budget, I was invited to Number 11 Downing Street to relay my fears for the hospitality industry.

Politics

2 w. ago OBR boss quits after Budget was leaked minutes before Rachel Reeves delivered it

Richard Hughes resigned as chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility following the massive blunder minutes before the Chancellor's Budget speech last month

Economics

2 w. ago Watchdog reveals reasons behind blunder that saw Budget details released early

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) released key details of the Budget more than half an hour before Rachel Reeves stood up to deliver her speech to Parliament last week

Economics

2 w. ago Starmer raises pressure on head of OBR by saying budget leak was ‘serious error’

PM says he is ‘very supportive’ of spending watchdog but breach was a ‘massive discourtesy’ to parliamentUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has increased pressure on the head of the government’s spending watchdog over the budget leak by saying that while he was “very supportive” of the institution, a “serious error” had been made.The prime minister said the breach of market-sensitive information, shortly before Rachel Reeves delivered her statement last week, was a “massive discourtesy” to parliament. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Sultana attacks the monarchy, Israel and ‘pathetic’ Labour in Your Party speech – UK politics live

MP speaks to delegates in Liverpool after boycotting conference yesterdayKemi Badenoch has reiterated her calls for the chancellor to resign on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, after accusing Rachel Reeves of breaking promises not to raise taxes.In this year’s budget, Reeves froze tax thresholds for three years longer than previously planned, meaning that as wages rise more people will have to start paying income tax.The chancellor called an emergency press conference telling everyone about how terrible the state of the finances were and now we have seen that the OBR had told her the complete opposite. She was raising taxes to pay for welfare.The only thing that was unfunded was the welfare payments which she has made and she’s doing it on the backs of a lot of people out there who are working very hard and getting poorer. And because of that, I believe she should resign.The shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, has written to the FCA (the Financial Conduct Authority). Hop...

Politics

2 w. ago Sultana addresses Your Party conference after securing ‘collective leadership’ victory – UK politics live

MP speaks to delegates in Liverpool after boycotting conference yesterdayKemi Badenoch has reiterated her calls for the chancellor to resign on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, after accusing Rachel Reeves of breaking promises not to raise taxes.In this year’s budget, Reeves froze tax thresholds for three years longer than previously planned, meaning that as wages rise more people will have to start paying income tax.The chancellor called an emergency press conference telling everyone about how terrible the state of the finances were and now we have seen that the OBR had told her the complete opposite. She was raising taxes to pay for welfare.The only thing that was unfunded was the welfare payments which she has made and she’s doing it on the backs of a lot of people out there who are working very hard and getting poorer. And because of that, I believe she should resign.The shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, has written to the FCA (the Financial Conduct Authority). Hop...

Politics

2 w. ago Five DWP updates from this week workers, pensioners and claimants need to know

In the week Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget, there's plenty to get up to date on

Economics

2 w. ago Hospitality industry facing huge 'stealth tax' as Chancellor Rachel Reeves is accused of delivering 'smoke and mirrors' Budget

On Wednesday, the Chancellor announced a reform of business rates, which critics have claimed is a 'stealth tax' on the high street which could trigger mass shop closures early next year.

Events

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves accused of misleading voters over £20bn Budget black hole – live updates

The fiscal watchdog said the chancellor knew about its revised prediction well before she changed course to raise taxes

Economics

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves 'lied to Brits about £21bn black hole to justify Benefits Street tax raid on workers'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a series of extraordinary grim warnings about the state of the government's books in the run-up to the Budget.

Economics

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves accused of 'lying' as OBR watchdog reveals she was told MONTHS before Budget there was NO hole in the public finances... but still talked up misery to cover brutal tax hikes

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a series of extraordinary grim warnings about the state of the government's books in the run-up to the Budget.

Economics

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves accused of ‘misleading’ UK over £20bn Budget black hole – live updates

The fiscal watchdog said the chancellor knew about its revised prediction well before she changed course to raise taxes

Economics

2 w. ago NatWest issues 'important' call to customers after Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget

NatWest has contacted its customers after Rachel Reeves delivered her 2025 Autumn Budget

Economics

3 w. ago By ending a cruel Tory social experiment, this budget clearly set out how Labour will fight the battle to renew Britain | Lucy Powell

The two-child benefit cap was a totem of 14 years of failed ideology. Now it is goneLucy Powell is deputy leader of the Labour partyYesterday the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered a Labour budget. People have been asking for Labour’s purpose and values to be more clearly expressed. Through the choices made – a shift to a fairer tax system, targeting wealth to pay for tackling child poverty, good public services and the cost of living – we have clearly set out what we stand for.That’s why Labour MPs cheered in the Commons, and it’s why we are up for the fights to come. And it’s why the cries from the right began immediately.Lucy Powell is MP for Manchester Central and deputy leader of the Labour partyDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Budget 2025 live: IFS warn Rachel Reeves she is ‘disincentivising growth’ after Starmer defends tax rises

Reeves admits Budget will mean working people will have to ‘contribute a bit more’ - but denies breaking manifesto pledge

Events

3 w. ago Martin Lewis delivers Budget verdict after Rachel Reeves meeting

Martin Lewis has interviewed Chancellor Rachel Reeves about the Budget

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer says budget did not break manifesto tax pledge and scrapping two

PM says: ‘We kept to our manifesto in terms of what we’ve promised. But I accept the challenge that we’ve asked everybody to contribute’Ask the Guardian your budget questionsShare your views on the new ‘mansion tax’Budget calculator: find out if you are better or worse offThe Conservative party is attacking the budget on the grounds that Rachel Reeves is putting up taxes supposedly to fund more spending on benefit claimants. Even though the rationale for this claim is questionable, the Tories were making it before the budget was announced, and Kemi Badenoch firmed it up last night, claiming it was a “Benefits Street budget”.On LBC this morning, asked if the budget meant “alarm clock Britain paying for Benefits Street”, Reeves said she did not accept that. She said 60% of the families that would benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit cap (the most expensive welfare announcement in the budget) were in work.I don’t think children should be punished by this pernicious policy ...

Economics

3 w. ago Budget 2025 live: Starmer says ‘everyone must contribute’ as he defends Rachel Reeves’ tax rises

Reeves admits Budget will mean working people will have to ‘contribute a bit more’ - but denies breaking manifesto pledge

Economics

3 w. ago Reeves should have included more tax reform in budget to help growth, IFS thinktank says – UK politics live

Institute for Fiscal Studies director says chancellors continue to ‘shy away from meaningful tax reform that could move the dial’Ask the Guardian your budget questionsShare your views on the new ‘mansion tax’ Budget calculator: find out if you are better or worse offThe Conservative party is attacking the budget on the grounds that Rachel Reeves is putting up taxes supposedly to fund more spending on benefit claimants. Even though the rationale for this claim is questionable, the Tories were making it before the budget was announced, and Kemi Badenoch firmed it up last night, claiming it was a “Benefits Street budget”.On LBC this morning, asked if the budget meant “alarm clock Britain paying for Benefits Street”, Reeves said she did not accept that. She said 60% of the families that would benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit cap (the most expensive welfare announcement in the budget) were in work.I don’t think children should be punished by this pernicious policy any lo...

Politics

3 w. ago Budget 2025 live: IFS accuses Rachel Reeves of breaking tax manifesto promise in damning Budget verdict

Reeves admits Budget will mean working people will have to ‘contribute a bit more’ - but denies breaking manifesto pledge

Economics