45 h. 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

47 h. 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

48 h. ago Reeves dismisses Tory claims of ‘Benefits Street budget’ – UK politics live

Chancellor says 60% of families that will be better off after the two-child limit is scrapped are in workAsk the Guardian your budget questionsBudget 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 longer. And the cost to society of this is huge, the cost for counci...

Politics

4 d. ago Coronation Street fans 'work out' who sent Becky wreath and Carla should be worried

Coronation Street aired explosive scenes on Monday night

Politics

4 d. ago Coronation Street fans 'rumble' who really sent Becky wreath and it's bad new for Carla

Coronation Street aired more dramatic scenes involving Becky Swain on Monday night

Politics

6 d. ago 'It's exactly the same as it's always been. If you're on the streets at night why wouldn't you?'

Spice use is thought to be falling in most places in Greater Manchester, but in the city centre it's never gone away

Politics

6 d. ago I thought I had dementia but it turned out to be LIVER DISEASE. Jackie couldn't recognise her husband

When Jackie Little was left unable to recognise her family and wandering the streets at night, they were devastated. Jackie was only in her early 50s.

Politics

6 d. ago I'm 53... I thought I had dementia but it turned out to be LIVER DISEASE. Jackie couldn't recognise her husband

When Jackie Little was left unable to recognise her family and wandering the streets at night, they were devastated. Jackie was only in her early 50s.

Politics

7 d. ago Falling stock markets and high shop prices push US consumer confidence down; bitcoin hits nine

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShares are falling faster than wickets in Perth at the start of trading in London, as fears of an AI bubble rip through markets again.Following losses on Wall Street last night, the FTSE 100 share index has dropped by 104 points, or just over 1%, at the start of trading to 9423 points. That’s a one-month low.it’s been a truly remarkable 24 hours, with a sequence of moves that were almost impossible to predict .After the world’s largest company reported spectacular results, the stock was up around +5% by 3pm London time. It closed down -3.15%. The broader market followed a similar pattern: the S&P 500 initially climbed +1.93%, only to fade and close down -1.56% as doubts about AI valuations crept back in. That marked the biggest intra-day swing for the S&P since the six days of extreme market turmoil that followed the Liberation Day tariffs in early April. Adding to the negative backdrop for crypto were lingering quest...

Economics

7 d. ago Markets on track for worst week since April, and bitcoin hits nine

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShares are falling faster than wickets in Perth at the start of trading in London, as fears of an AI bubble rip through markets again.Following losses on Wall Street last night, the FTSE 100 share index has dropped by 104 points, or just over 1%, at the start of trading to 9423 points. That’s a one-month low.it’s been a truly remarkable 24 hours, with a sequence of moves that were almost impossible to predict .After the world’s largest company reported spectacular results, the stock was up around +5% by 3pm London time. It closed down -3.15%. The broader market followed a similar pattern: the S&P 500 initially climbed +1.93%, only to fade and close down -1.56% as doubts about AI valuations crept back in. That marked the biggest intra-day swing for the S&P since the six days of extreme market turmoil that followed the Liberation Day tariffs in early April. Adding to the negative backdrop for crypto were lingering quest...

Events

7 d. ago Markets on track for worst week since April as AI bubble fears mount; UK borrowing exceeds forecasts in October – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShares are falling faster than wickets in Perth at the start of trading in London, as fears of an AI bubble rip through markets again.Following losses on Wall Street last night, the FTSE 100 share index has dropped by 104 points, or just over 1%, at the start of trading to 9423 points. That’s a one-month low.it’s been a truly remarkable 24 hours, with a sequence of moves that were almost impossible to predict .After the world’s largest company reported spectacular results, the stock was up around +5% by 3pm London time. It closed down -3.15%. The broader market followed a similar pattern: the S&P 500 initially climbed +1.93%, only to fade and close down -1.56% as doubts about AI valuations crept back in. That marked the biggest intra-day swing for the S&P since the six days of extreme market turmoil that followed the Liberation Day tariffs in early April. Adding to the negative backdrop for crypto were lingering quest...

Economics

1 week ago Coronation Street fans struggle to watch 'heartbreaking' scenes as Todd's abuse continues

Coronation Street viewers struggled to watch 'heartbreaking' scenes that aired in Monday night's episode that left fan favourite Todd Grimshaw in floods of tears

Events

2 w. ago Coronation Street fans 'uncomfortable' after grooming plot takes worrying turn

Coronation Street viewers were left feeling 'uncomfortable' following Friday night's episode after an already-controversial plot on the ITV soap took a worrying turn

Politics

2 w. ago 'Tent village' with 30 rough sleepers pops up on famous London street lined with West End theatres and £800

In the shadow of a Grade II listed property at the heart of the capital, people from Britain and around the world are living in a street encampment.

Economics

2 w. ago Robert De Niro, Stella McCartney and the jolliest Christmas lights switch on in London

Christmas cheer filled Old Bond Street last night during the Stella McCartney light switch on

Politics

2 w. ago Ed Miliband urges Labour to move on after Starmer apologises to Streeting for hostile briefings from No 10 – UK politics live

Fallout from extraordinary briefing operation against Wes Streeting continues as calls grow for Starmer to sack his chief of staff Morgan McSweeneyGood morning. In an interview around this time yesterday morning, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said that if Keir Starmer were to ring him about the anti-Streeting briefing by Starmer allies reported by the Guardian and others on Tuesday, Streeting would reply: “Why are you bothering with this.” It was an attempt to play down a new episode of Labour turmoil that has turned out to counter-productive for Starmer, but helpful for Streeting, and by the time the two men did speak last night, the conversation took a different tone.Starmer apologised to Streeting, journalists have been told. The conversation was short, and they did not discuss Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, whom Starmer is now under pressure to sack. The pair also agreed they would speak again soon – which doesn’t mean much (they both attend cabinet, and have...

Politics

2 w. ago ITV Coronation Street viewers left in disbelief as James Bailey reveals his age

Coronation Street fans were left stunned on Monday night when James Bailey revealed his real age on the ITV soap, as they were convinced he was much older

Politics

2 w. ago Alan Carr sends fans wild as he parties in the street in his Celebrity Traitors cloak and brandishes lantern after his incredible surprise victory

Alan was spotted by fans on a night out in his iconic costume, complete with lantern, in the streets of the capital on the night of his victory.

Politics

2 w. ago Police swarm Sainsbury's after woman 'attacked' as 'liquid on ground' in UK city centre

Police raced to the scene after reports a woman had been "attacked" on Buchanan Street in Glasgow last night as dozens of cars were seen out side a Sainsbury's Local

Events

3 w. ago Illuminated angels soar over streets of London with message of 'welcome' to the capital as new Christmas lights go up a day after Bonfire Night

The seasonal spectacle runs until January 4, inviting Londoners and visitors alike to soak up the sparkle and joy of the season.

Events