5 h. ago Starmer signals fresh push on welfare reform in bid to move on from Budget row

The Prime Minister will make the case for a welfare system shake-up after the axing of the two-child cap in the Budget was welcomed by Labour MPs.

Economics

5 h. ago There are those on the left and right who offer only grievance: Labour is getting on with the job of economic renewal | Keir Starmer

Judge last week’s budget in the light of our bold plans to sweep away red tape, tackle inactivity among young people and pursue a closer trading relationship with the EUKeir Starmer is the prime minister of the United KingdomReport: Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver, Starmer saysAt the budget last week, we made the right choices for Britain, cutting the cost of energy with £150 off bills, protecting the NHS and tackling the scourge of child poverty by removing the two-child limit. We also ensured that the revenue we raised through taxes was done fairly, with everyone contributing but those with the broadest shoulders contributing their fair share. As a result of the choices we made, the budget created a more stable economic environment, driving down inflation and government bond yields. This is vital for protecting our public services, when £1 in every £10 spent by government goes on debt interest.The budget builds on the action we have already taken to improve the e...

Economics

5 h. ago Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver, Keir Starmer says

Exclusive: PM hits back at critics as he insists Rachel Reeves right to impose £26bn worth of tax rises at budget• Keir Starmer: Labour is getting on with the job of economic renewalLabour’s economic plan will take years to deliver in full, Keir Starmer has said as he tries to regain the narrative after a turbulent response to last week’s budget.In an article for the Guardian, the prime minister hit back at his political opponents, insisting the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, was right to impose £26bn worth of tax rises. Continue reading...

Economics

5 h. ago Labour on track to meet major HIV transmission pledge says PM on World AIDS Day

Keir Starmer has said the Government's goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 is within reach as Wes Streeting unveils a new action plan on World AIDS day

Events

5 h. ago Keir Starmer sets sights on welfare again as Rachel Reeves battles 'lies' claim

Keir Starmer will hit out at a 'poverty of ambition' as he once again sets his sights on welfare spending - as Rachel Reeves battles accusations that she misled the public before the Budget

Economics

5 h. ago Oops! Baldrick's gaffe over Hitler and Nigel Farage: ANDREW PIERCE

Labour luvvie Sir Tony Robinson, one of Sir Keir Starmer's few celebrity supporters, has made a comparison between Nigel Farage and Hitler.

Events

12 h. ago Sultana attacks the monarchy, Israel and ‘pathetic’ Labour in Your Party speech – UK politics live

MP speaks to delegates in Liverpool after boycotting conference yesterdayKemi Badenoch has reiterated her calls for the chancellor to resign on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, after accusing Rachel Reeves of breaking promises not to raise taxes.In this year’s budget, Reeves froze tax thresholds for three years longer than previously planned, meaning that as wages rise more people will have to start paying income tax.The chancellor called an emergency press conference telling everyone about how terrible the state of the finances were and now we have seen that the OBR had told her the complete opposite. She was raising taxes to pay for welfare.The only thing that was unfunded was the welfare payments which she has made and she’s doing it on the backs of a lot of people out there who are working very hard and getting poorer. And because of that, I believe she should resign.The shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, has written to the FCA (the Financial Conduct Authority). Hop...

Politics

13 h. ago Sultana addresses Your Party conference after securing ‘collective leadership’ victory – UK politics live

MP speaks to delegates in Liverpool after boycotting conference yesterdayKemi Badenoch has reiterated her calls for the chancellor to resign on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, after accusing Rachel Reeves of breaking promises not to raise taxes.In this year’s budget, Reeves froze tax thresholds for three years longer than previously planned, meaning that as wages rise more people will have to start paying income tax.The chancellor called an emergency press conference telling everyone about how terrible the state of the finances were and now we have seen that the OBR had told her the complete opposite. She was raising taxes to pay for welfare.The only thing that was unfunded was the welfare payments which she has made and she’s doing it on the backs of a lot of people out there who are working very hard and getting poorer. And because of that, I believe she should resign.The shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, has written to the FCA (the Financial Conduct Authority). Hop...

Politics

16 h. ago Rachel Reeves ‘uncomfortable’ listening to Kemi Badenoch’s Budget response

The Tory leader said her ‘job is to hold the Government to account, not to provide emotional support for the Chancellor’.

Politics

21 h. ago Sir Keir Starmer reveals his favourite Scottish dish at first No.10 St Andrew's Day event in a decade

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed guests to Number 10 Downing Street to ‘celebrate Scotland’

Politics

39 h. ago Voting in Keir Starmer was a big mistake... the Budget opens the floodgates for handouts: Benefits Street star White Dee's withering verdict on Rachel Reeves's welfare bonanza

White Dee, 54, as she is better known, famously said her friends and neighbours in the 'welfare ghetto' of Birmingham 's James Turner Street were simply claiming what they were entitled to.

Events

43 h. ago What does the Budget mean for you... and how bad was it? This is Money podcast

Rachel Reeves seemed happy with her statement and Sir Keir Starmer has been out singing its praises, but was the Budget a diamond in the rough or a dud?

Economics

48 h. ago Reeves defends Budget tax and spending choices as ‘fair and necessary’

The Chancellor she had made choices to increase taxes and improve public infrastructure, and had ‘chosen to protect public spending’.

Economics

58 h. ago Starmer facing fury of left again as he is accused of breaching another Labour manifesto promise by ditching Rayner's day one rights for workers

Sir Keir Starmer is once more at war with the left after ditching a key part of Angela Rayner 's workers' rights bonanza.

Economics

59 h. ago Tell us something we don't know: Starmer admits 'we have no effective deterrent in the Channel' as French police agree to intercept boats in the water

France is finally taking limited action against migrant dinghies at sea - after Prime Minister Keir Starmer begged for a move saying there was 'no effective deterrent', having scrapped Rwanda. plan

Events

60 h. ago Congratulations everyone! Starmer survives another week, and it’s only cost us £26bn | Marina Hyde

Labour can proudly say this was a budget for working people – that is, if your job happens to be prime ministerThanks to Labour’s incredible Black Friday deal, breaking manifesto policies is buy-one-get-one-free. As part of its all-promises-must-go drive, it’s ditching its flagship policy giving the right to claim unfair dismissal from day one of employment. Employers will now have up to six months to summarily sack workers who don’t pan out – unless they’re the government, in which case people have to wait till 2029.The employment rights bill was drawn up and championed by Angela Rayner, who resigned in September following a series of discoveries about her tax affairs. Weird to think that Rayner could easily have been in the I’m a Celebrity camp right now. The former deputy PM reportedly got pretty far along in her discussions with ITV in terms of booking a spot on the current series of the fauna-testicle-based format, and could at this very moment have been giving us her Queen Ove...

Economics

61 h. ago France to start intercepting small boats carrying migrants in English Channel after pressure from UK

Policy change follows a letter sent by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to French president Emmanuel Macron reportedly saying ‘we have no effective deterrent in the Channel’

Events

63 h. ago Andy Burnham rules out MP's offer to give up his seat for leadership challenge

Clive Lewis said he would stand aside so Andy Burnham could become an MP and challenge Keir Starmer for Labour leader

Politics

63 h. ago France to start intercepting small boats as Keir Starmer plea to Macron leaked

French police are set to start intervening to stop small boats before passengers board them, it is believed, after Keir Starmer pleaded with Emmanuel Macron to act

Politics

64 h. ago Budget has preserved Starmer’s job until at least May elections, say Labour MPs

While some call budget ‘tactical victory’, few MPs believe it is enough for Labour to beat ReformUK politics live – latest updatesLabour MPs have said they believe Keir Starmer’s leadership is safe until at least the May elections, after a budget that avoided any major damaging measures but which few MPs believe will revive the party’s fortunes.More than a dozen previously loyal MPs told the Guardian they did not believe the budget would shift the fundamentals required for the party to beat Reform. “It only delays what is inevitable,” one minister said. Continue reading...

Politics