55 h. ago Reeves vows state pensioners won’t have to pay tax despite alarm over Budget changes

The chancellor said the Treasury would not go after ‘tiny amounts of money’ from state pensioners, pledging that they would not pay any tax in this parliament

Economics

56 h. ago Rachel Reeves’ uncle blasts Budget as 'worst I’ve ever heard'

His comments come as the Chancellor is accused of breaking a Labour manifesto pledge amid £26billion of tax rises

Politics

3 d. ago Did Labour break their tax manifesto pledge? Martin Lewis gives his opinion

Martin Lewis has revealed whether he thinks Rachel Reeves broke Labour's manifesto pledge on tax.

Politics

3 d. 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 d. 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 d. ago Did Rachel Reeves break her manifesto pledge on tax? Her own words suggest she did

The chancellor is using semantics to argue she has not broken her pledge – which will be of little comfort to those whose income tax bill will soar, writes David Maddox

Politics

3 d. ago Budget 2025 live: Rachel Reeves admits ‘working people will pay more’ but denies breaking manifesto tax pledge

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch brands package of measures ‘a smorgasbord of misery’ and urges chancellor to resign

Economics

3 d. ago The strivers hit hardest: As Reeves' Budget clobbers workers, the Britons who say it's a 'kick in the teeth' and 'I wish I hadn't bought an EV'

The Chancellor bowed to Left-wing demands and shattered Labour's manifesto pledges on tax with a £13billion freeze on income tax and National Insurance thresholds lasting three years.

Economics

3 d. ago With a smirk that says if you work hard and save prudently I'm coming for you, Reeves launches 43 tax rises in spiteful raids on strivers

The Chancellor shattered Labour's manifesto pledges on tax with a £13 billion freeze on income tax and National Insurance thresholds lasting three years.

Economics

4 d. ago Budget 2025 live: Reeves claims freezing tax thresholds in budget does not breach manifesto pledge

Chancellor says she will not ‘get into semantics’ when questioned on issue after her statementAt a glance: the key points from the budgetHow does freezing income tax thresholds affect you?Paul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, has rejected the concerns raised by the Resolution Foundation (see 9.54am) about the rise in the minimum wage rates. Asked about the thinktank’s comments, Nowak told Times Radio:I don’t accept those concerns ...First of all, that recommendation is based on the Low Pay Commission, which brings together employers, unions, independent experts, they’re tasked with making a recommendation on the minimum wage, which balances getting money into people’s pockets and the impact on unemployment. Continue reading...

Economics

7 d. ago Reeves pledges to ‘grip cost of living’ in Budget as tax hikes expected

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is grappling with weak economic growth, persistent inflation and an expected downgrade to official productivity forecasts.

Economics

9 d. ago PM says leaders should ‘stick to their word’ but fails to reaffirm tax pledge

The Prime Minister repeatedly declined to rule out hitting working people with extra tax in the Budget.

Politics

2 w. ago Angela Rayner condemns ‘arrogant tittle tattle’ amid Labour infighting

When quizzed if a return to frontline politics may be on the cards, the former deputy Labour leader said she had not ‘gone away’.

Politics

2 w. ago Angela Rayner makes vow to Brits in first interview since losing Deputy PM job

The former Deputy Labour Leader slapped down the infighting that engulfed Labour this week, condemning it as 'arrogant tittle tattle', and called for a focus on the issues

Politics

2 w. ago Angela Rayner explains why Nigel Farage is 'snake oil salesman'

The former Labour Deputy Leader tore into the Reform UK leader, and accused him of trying to prevent her putting more power into the hands of the working class

Politics

2 w. ago Lucy Powell slams 'unacceptable' Labour infighting and explains what needs to change

Speaking in a week that saw a briefing war emerge over Keir Starmer’s leadership, the Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell called for a 'cultural reset' in how politics was done

Politics

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves to abandon plans to raise income tax rates in budget

Labour had laid the ground to break a manifesto pledge on taxes for working people but has now made a U-turnRachel Reeves is set to abandon a plan to raise income tax in her budget with the chancellor reportedly “ripping up” the main measures in the wake of turmoil in the party.A source told the Guardian that plans to break the manifesto pledge on income tax had been ditched by the prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the chancellor. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Labour's flagship manifesto pledge on tax to be ripped up, Reeves makes clear ahead of Budget

The Chancellor said sticking to Labour’s manifesto commitments would mean ‘deep cuts’ to capital spending, something she indicated she will not do

Economics

2 w. ago Reeves signals she will break manifesto pledge with Budget tax rises

Chancellor hopes to win support from Labour MPs by lifting two-child benefit cap

Economics

2 w. ago Mutinous Labour MPs warn Rachel Reeves of electoral meltdown if she breaks manifesto pledge with 2p tax hike

Rachel Reeves has been dropping heavy hints that income tax could go up in the package on November 26 - despite the move being explicitly ruled out in the manifesto.

Events