25 h. ago Disengaging from China on business would be ‘foolish’, Rachel Reeves says

Chancellor supports economic ties with Beijing as she prepares to fly to US next week for trade deal talksRachel Reeves has dismissed the idea of economically disengaging from China, amid concerns the US may put pressure on the UK to limit its deals with Beijing.The chancellor, who will discuss a trade deal with the US on a trip to Washington next week, said it would be “very foolish” for Britain to have less involvement with Xi Jinping’s administration. Continue reading...

Politics

25 h. ago Cutting business ties with China would be ‘foolish’, Reeves says amid reports of US pressure

Chancellor supports economic ties with Beijing as she prepares to fly to US next week for trade deal talksRachel Reeves has dismissed the idea of economically disengaging from China, amid concerns the US may put pressure on the UK to limit its deals with Beijing.The chancellor, who will discuss a trade deal with the US on a trip to Washington next week, said it would be “very foolish” for Britain to have less involvement with Xi Jinping’s administration. Continue reading...

Events

36 h. ago Starmer urges free trade in first call with Trump after UK hit by sweeping US tariffs

It comes as Rachel Reeves is due to hold talks with the White House next week amid efforts to strike a trade deal

Politics

61 h. ago Trump warns ‘substantial’ tariffs will remain on imports as Reeves prepares for US talks

US president doubles down on trade policy as chancellor aims to secure trade deal for UK in Washington

Events

62 h. ago Reeves to hold talks with US as Trump says ‘no rush’ to strike deals

Britain is hoping a deal can help stave off the full brunt of the US president’s sweeping 10% tariffs on all goods imported to America.

Politics

65 h. ago Government risked ‘throwing good money after bad’ in steel talks – Reeves

‘Government are going to play a big role’ in the future of steelmaking in Scunthorpe, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said.

Politics

1 week ago Tariffs driving India to strike trade deals, finance minister says ahead of UK talks

Nirmala Sitharam says turmoil forcing countries to seek accords beyond old ideological and political tiesIndia is seeking to strike more trade deals with other countries at a time of “global uncertainty”, its finance minister, Nirmala Sitharam, said before talks with the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves.Sitharam, who serves as finance and corporate affairs minister in Narendra Modi’s government, said she was hopeful the UK and India would finalise a free trade deal “sooner rather than later”. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Trump tariffs live: Reeves says ‘nothing off the table’ in US trade talks after FTSE finally rallies

Comes as US president threatens new 50% levy on China on top of eye-wateringly high existing tariffs

Politics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer is one of Labour’s most rightwing prime ministers. And one of its most leftwing, too | Andy Beckett

The PM offers a political hybrid designed for a fickle electorate. There are short-term electoral gains to be won, but risks in the long termFor more than eight months now, since shortly after Labour won power, more and more people have been outraged by the government’s moves to the right. Starting with its decision to keep the Conservatives’ cruel two-child benefit cap last July, the government has regularly given these critics reasons to feel shocked, betrayed or just disappointed.From deportation videos to Keir Starmer’s declaration that “I like and respect” Donald Trump, from repeated public sector cuts to the chancellor Rachel Reeves’s talk of “tearing down regulatory barriers” in this week’s spring statement, Labour has often behaved as if the boundaries between its supposedly centre-left politics and the politics of the right or even the far right have simply melted away. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago UK having ‘extensive’ talks with US on car import tariffs, Rachel Reeves says

A 25% tariff on vehicles imported to the US will come into effect on April 2.

Politics

3 w. ago What to expect from Rachel Reeves’s (brief) spring statement

Talk of tough choices ahead, an increase in debt financing, and more initiatives to promote growthThe spring statement offers an opportunity for Rachel Reeves to talk about progress since last October’s budget, the government’s growth agenda and how it is attempting to raise living standards. However, the chancellor’s message is likely to be defensive after being blown off course in recent months.Last year she promised “no return to austerity”. But after stalled tax receipts denied her the income she expected, and concerns over the global economy and Donald Trump’s antics raised the UK’s borrowing costs, Reeves is being forced to make cuts to stay within her budget rules. Here is what to expect from Reeves’s speech, which is predicted to be relatively short at just 25 minutes. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Reeves wriggles on Labour's economic slump: Chancellor denies triggering UK plc's slowdown as she admits 'hard' decisions coming on '£15bn' cuts in Spring Statement

Touring broadcast studios days before her crucial fiscal package, Rachel Reeves was forced to deny crushing activity by hiking taxes and talking down the economy.

Economics