3 w. ago DAILY MAIL COMMENT: 'Awful April' will be the cruellest month

You've got to hand it to Rachel Reeves. Despite her lamentable Spring Statement being savaged across the political spectrum, the Chancellor is putting a brave face on it.

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Was this new age austerity always coming?’ Your spring statement questions answered by Andrew Grice

In this exclusive Q&A session, The Independent’s political commentator Andrew Grice tackles welfare cuts, taxation, and the economic challenges facing the UK

Politics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement: Experts react to controversial changes – 'she'll need more'

The spring statement, worsening economy and Donald Trump's latest trade tariffs on cars has led to renewed speculation about more tax rises to come and a further hit to hard-up households

Politics

3 w. ago Wealthy and pensioners at risk of new tax raid in autumn Budget, experts warn

Labour chancellor has stopped short of ruling out further tax rises or spending cuts at the Budget

Events

3 w. ago ‘Good chance’ Reeves will have to raise taxes in autumn budget, thinktank says – UK politics live

Institute for Fiscal Studies also warns Reeves over her focus on sticking with fiscal rules regardless of real world eventsIn an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said she would not accept free tickets for concerts again in the future.Asked about the controversy about her decision to accept two corporate tickets for a Sabrina Carpenter concert at the O2, she repeated the line that she used at her press conference yesterday – that a family member wanted to attend the concert (presumably one of her children, but she did not say that), and that she accepted tickets for a corporate box because security concerns meant it was not deemed safe for her to get normal tickets for the auditorium.I’m just saying I wouldn’t do it again. I felt I was doing the right thing. But I do understand perceptions.I am absolutely certain that our reforms, instead of pushing people into poverty, are going to get people into work.And we know that if you move from welfar...

Politics

3 w. ago Voices: Independent readers react to Rachel Reeves’ spring statement – from ‘out of touch’ to ‘genuine poverty’

The chancellor’s spring statement sparked fierce criticism from readers, who accused her of reviving austerity by targeting the poor while failing to prioritise improving living standards, tax reform, and sustainable economic growth

Politics

3 w. ago Spring statement latest: Reeves won’t ‘escalate trade wars’ as Trump’s latest tariffs could hit UK economy

A 25 per cent tariff on vehicles imported to the US will come into effect on 2 April, the US president announced

Events

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves 'certain' benefits cuts won't push people into hardship amid growing Labour unrest

The Chancellor was also forced to defend Treasury minister Darren Jones who compared the benefits cuts to taking pocket money away from his children

Politics

3 w. ago Reeves on a double knife edge as she could be forced to order ‘blockbuster’ tax rises, say experts

Critics said her future as chancellor is under threat as a result of errors she has made since taking charge of the economy last year

Politics

3 w. ago Reeves denies welfare cuts will increase poverty amid warning poorest set to be £500 a year worse off – UK politics live

The Resolution Foundation says the UK’s poorest will be £500 a year worse off by the end of the parliament due to the spring statementIn an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said she would not accept free tickets for concerts again in the future.Asked about the controversy about her decision to accept two corporate tickets for a Sabrina Carpenter concert at the O2, she repeated the line that she used at her press conference yesterday – that a family member wanted to attend the concert (presumably one of her children, but she did not say that), and that she accepted tickets for a corporate box because security concerns meant it was not deemed safe for her to get normal tickets for the auditorium.I’m just saying I wouldn’t do it again. I felt I was doing the right thing. But I do understand perceptions.I am absolutely certain that our reforms, instead of pushing people into poverty, are going to get people into work.And we know that if you move ...

Events

3 w. ago Spring statement latest: Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out tax rises in autumn budget

Chancellor faces speculation she will be forced to find more money to balance the books

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves defends benefit cuts and denies further tax rises likely in autumn – UK politics live

Chancellor confirmed welfare cuts of £4.8bn in spring statement, but insisted the priority was to restore stability to the public finances Nick Robinson is interviewing Rachel Reeves on the Today programme now.Q: You promised just one budget a year, but yesterday you had to announce drastic cuts. What’s gone wrong?We’re not at the moment at a position where we want to do anything to escalate these trade wars.Trade wars are no good for anyone. It will end up with higher prices for consumers, pushing up inflation after we’ve worked so hard to get a grip of inflation, and at the same time will make it harder for British companies to export. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Spring statement latest: Reeves rejects warning that welfare reforms could push 250,000 into poverty

Chancellor faces speculation she will be forced to find more money to balance the books

Events

3 w. ago Deluded: Rachel Reeves claimed to be delivering renewal. The reality? Our growth forecast for this year has been slashed in half

On a humiliating day for the Chancellor, she was forced to deliver a £14 billion package of emergency spending cuts to avoid breaking fiscal rules she wrote herself only five months ago.

Politics

3 w. ago Confidence is key, but the Spring Statement didn't deliver much of it for personal finances

Tom Ham, group chief executive at Calton, discusses whether Rachel Reeves delivered a Budget or statement and what its impact will be on finances

Politics

3 w. ago UK politics latest: Reeves refuses to rule out more cuts amid growing Labour backlash

Chancellor faces speculation she will be forced to find more money to balance the books

Politics

3 w. ago Tax rise warning for millions as Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out Autumn Budget raid after Spring Statement

The Chancellor said to be at the ‘mercy of events’ by not building up a bigger fiscal cushion

Events

3 w. ago Tax rise warning for millions as Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out hikes after Spring Statement

The Chancellor said to be at the ‘mercy of events’ by not building up a bigger fiscal cushion

Events

3 w. ago Reeves’s benefit cuts to plunge 250,000 people into poverty, government admits

There was outrage as the chancellor announced yet more welfare cuts which are now set to affect 3.2 million families

Politics

3 w. ago Reeves rejects own government’s findings of cuts pushing 250,000 into poverty

An impact assessment, published today by the Department of Work and Pensions, said 3.2 million families will lose an average of £1,720 a year as a result of the changes

Politics