9 h. ago Fears of damage to nature from Labour planning reforms overblown, minister says

Matthew Pennycook dismissed anxiety from campaigners that Planning and Infrastructure Bill could lead to a weakening of environmental law.

Politics

15 h. ago Reform UK backs plan to put swift bricks in every new home in England

Party joins MPs across political spectrum in supporting bird conservation amendment similar to one blocked by LabourReform UK has joined MPs from across the political spectrum in supporting an amendment to provide every new home in England with at least one “swift brick” to help endangered cavity-nesting birds, after a similar amendment was blocked by Labour in the committee stage.Richard Tice , a former housing developer and the Reform deputy leader, said his party’s MPs would support a revised amendment tabled by Labour’s Barry Gardiner to incorporate the measure in the government’s increasingly controversial planning bill. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Angela Rayner's planning reforms will cover Britain in 'soulless settlements' of ugly houses, Tories warn as Starmer vows to use AI to speed up building

Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake warned that measures being championed by Angela Rayner would lead to increased urban sprawl of concrete houses.

Events

37 h. ago Nigel Farage's No2 plots 'reckless cuts worth more than NHS budget' as voters warned

Nigel Farage's No2, Richard Tice, has said he is plotting to slash public funding to 35% of GDP - which would wipe out a massive £275billion amid questions about Reform's NHS plans

Events

3 d. ago Trump and Musk’s allies urge reconciliation after damaging split

Tech industry fears commercial and political damage from breakdown in relationship between Tesla boss and US president

Politics

7 d. ago Scots would pay price for Nigel Farage's proposed funding shakeup

The Reform UK's plan to scrap the Barnett Formula would lead to cuts to public services in Scotland, says Record View.

Economics

8 d. ago My son caught world's most infectious disease and could suffer permanent damage... my warning to all parents

A mother who lives in the epicenter of the Texas measles outbreak has revealed how her son's infection left her fearing he could suffer permanent brain damage.

Events

1 week ago Rachel Reeves set to revive Tory plans to invest in the Red Wall as Labour tries to head off Reform threat

Rachel Reeves is said to have ordered a review of the framework to enable investment in the North and Midlands at next month's spending review.

Events

1 week ago Revealed: How Farage’s £80bn tax cuts would benefit the richest most

Exclusive: Calculations for The Independent reveal the richest tenth of the population would gain almost four times as much as the poorest 10 per cent from Reform’s tax plans

Economics

1 week ago Get Britain building ... ponds: Angela Rayner urged to use planning reform to cut red tape on small lakes to help wildlife and combat flooding

Tory MP Rebecca Smith wants the Deputy Prime Minister's plan to cut red tape around construction to include easing the rules governing the creation of new bodies of water.

Events

1 week ago Cash is no longer king? Nigel Farage vows to lead a 'crypto revolution' bringing Britain 'properly into the 21st century' after vowing to protect hard currency before election

The Reform leader, who is facing accusations of having 'fantasy' economic plans, told Bitcoin 25 in Las Vegas he wanted to 'bring our country properly into the 21st century'.

Politics

1 week ago Nigel Farage claims Keir Starmer's attacks on his economic plans are 'Project Fear 2.0' as Reform leader faces questions over £85bn cost of 'fantasy' policies

Sir Keir this morning warned voters they cannot trust Mr Farage with their 'future, mortgages or jobs' in a speech deriding his economic literacy.

Economics

1 week ago Keir Starmer says Nigel Farage is ‘Liz Truss all over again’ – UK politics live

Prime minister says ‘you cannot trust Farage with your future and your jobs’ as he gives speech in north-west EnglandStarmer to say Reform’s spending plans would cause Truss-style meltdownWhen “something sounds too good to be true, it’s because it is too good to be true”, water minister Emma Hardy has said, reports the PA news agency.Asked about the “threat” which Reform UK poses to Labour, Hardy told GB News:I think it’s really important that any political party is held to account for the promises that they’ve made and we know – gosh, don’t we just know – what happened when [former prime minister] Liz Truss made her £45bn of unfunded tax cuts: the economy tanked, mortgages went up, rents went up, bills went up.When something sounds too good to be true, it’s because it is too good to be true. If [Farage] wants to be taken seriously as a political party, then he needs to come up with some serious policies and he needs to be held to account.Now, had I come on your programme and said, ...

Politics

1 week ago Where's the cash coming from, Nige? Keir Starmer challenges Farage over Reform's £85bn spending plans

The Prime Minister joined the Tories in taking aim at Mr Farage's economic literacy today after he unveiled plans for an £85billion spending splurge if Reform wins power.

Economics

1 week ago DWP reveals four groups of PIP claimants most likely to get ongoing £749 payment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the proposed plans to reform Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will come into force in November 2026 for new and existing claimants

Economics

1 week ago Planning reforms seek to boost smaller developers to build homes faster

The Government will set out proposals to cut red tape and for planning decisions to be shifted away from councillors and towards expert officers.

Politics

1 week ago Nigel Farage accused of ‘fantasy promises’ with expensive policy pledges

Reform UK leader unveils plans to reverse benefit cuts and bring in tax breaks without explaining how they would be fundedNigel Farage has been accused of leaving a multibillion-pound black hole at the heart of his party’s spending plans after unveiling a series of expensive policy pledges to be paid for by cutting nonexistent items of government spending.The Reform UK leader laid out a series of economic promises at a speech on Tuesday designed to take advantage of disquiet among Labour voters at the government’s policies on taxes and benefits. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Reform UK’s income tax plans ‘to cost up to £80bn’ warns IFS – UK politics live

Research institute says costs of plan to exclude those earning less than £20k from the tax will dwarf those of party’s winter fuel and two-child benefit changesThe co-leader of the Green party of England and Wales, Adrian Ramsay, has renewed his call for Russia to face greater sanctions. Posting to social media, the MP for Waveney Valley said “Putin has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian civilians because he thinks he’ll face no consequences. Much tougher sanctions are urgently needed to bring him into serious peace talks to end this horrific war.”As well as appearing on the media round today, shadow chancellor Mel Stride has written for the Daily Mail, saying that the Conservatives continue to back the two-child benefit cap. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago New reports of ‘tweaks’ to planned DWP welfare reforms due to start next year

Sir Keir Starmer is said to be seeking to soften the blow of welfare cuts as he faces a growing threat of a backbench rebellion.

Politics

2 w. ago Former drugs mule gives stark warning amid Bella Culley and Charlotte Lee cases

As rising numbers of Brits risk all to smuggle drugs on to planes, reformed trafficker Natalie Welsh reveals how they are at risk of being hoodwinked by organised criminal gangs

Events