49 m. ago Keir Starmer must come to the defence of his chancellor’s spending review

Editorial: In spite of Rachel Reeves’s much-vaunted increase in MoD expenditure, a rise to 2.6 per cent of GDP can only be achieved by draining the overseas aid budget, reallocating intelligence agency funds, and other sleights of hand. When the prime minister faces Nato leaders, including Donald Trump, he will have no choice but to spin the numbers

Politics

3 h. ago Voices: Look away, Sir Keir! Labour’s bible has given its verdict on you

The New Statesman’s new editor is a critical friend of the prime minister – very critical, as it turns out, writes John Rentoul (a former deputy editor of the magazine)

Politics

4 h. ago UK ‘ready to go’ on implementing US trade deal, says Business Secretary

Jonathan Reynolds suggested the White House was responsible for the hold-up.

Economics

6 h. ago Ben Wallace accuses Labour of ‘conning’ public over defence spending boost claim

Concerns have been raised that the increase in defence spending pledged by Keir Starmer’s government is ‘smoke and mirrors’

Politics

6 h. ago Judge warns those involved in Ballymena violence will be dealt with ‘robustly’

Three teenagers appeared in court on rioting offences.

Events

6 h. ago Government urged not to weaken ‘Hillsborough Law’ as MPs demand Bill is passed

Labour MPs have insisted that the law that would ensure a duty of candour on public bodies and workers must not be watered down amid further delays.

Politics

7 h. ago Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash Live Updates: ‘Heartbreaking beyond words,’ says PM Narendra Modi; UK PM Keir Starmer calls mishap ‘devastating’

Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash Live Updates: ‘Heartbreaking beyond words,’ says PM Narendra Modi; UK PM Keir Starmer calls mishap ‘devastating’  Times of India

Events

8 h. ago Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer makes statement after Air India crash

Sir Keir said the scenes are 'devastating'

Politics

9 h. ago US review of Aukus submarine deal ‘understandable’ – UK Government

The review is headed by Elbridge Colby, an official at the US defence department who has previously described himself as ‘sceptical’ of the pact.

Politics

10 h. ago Three nights of disorder ‘not what Northern Ireland is about’ – Benn

The Secretary of State and local political leaders have urged the violence focused on Ballymena, Co Antrim, to stop.

Politics

13 h. ago Rachel Reeves seized her moment – whatever the future brings, Labour’s economic course is now set | Martin Kettle

The chancellor is no mere technocrat: her spending review revealed a visceral commitment to social and economic mobilityThe consensus has long been that the 2025 spending review would be a defining moment for Keir Starmer’s government. For once, the consensus proved spot-on. The government’s main priorities were set out on Wednesday in a blizzard of Commons announcements from Rachel Reeves, some economically substantive, others more for show. The upshot is that the shape of the British state, as Labour intends it, is now decided until the eve of the next election.There are further crossroads still to come, some of them major, as the years covered by the review unroll. Taxes are likely to rise, probably as soon as the autumn budget, to pay for Reeves’s big ticket boosts on Wednesday for defence, health and housing. Council tax could rise too, with possibly dramatic results. The review’s emphasis on capital spending means current spending could be squeezed again, perhaps heralding pay...

Economics

17 h. ago ANDREW NEIL: Starmer's claim to be 'investing in Britain's renewal' is delusional drivel in a class of its own

'Our first job was to stabilise the economy and public finances,' Keir Starmer tweeted yesterday morning, a few hours before Rachel Reeves delivered Labour's spending plans.

Politics

19 h. ago Police come under attack during third night of disorder in Ballymena

Elsewhere, a leisure centre in Larne was set on fire.

Events

24 h. ago Police leaders say they will struggle to fulfil Labour’s promise to recruit 13,000 officers

Projected £1.2bn police funding shortfall expected to grow after spending review outlined fall in Home Office spending powerPolice forces will struggle to fulfil Keir Starmer’s promise to recruit an additional 13,000 officers and the public will “pay the price”, police leaders have warned, after the chancellor outlined a decline in Home Office spending power on Wednesday.The National Police Chiefs’ Council said it would be incredibly difficult to deliver the prime minister’s election pledge within the lifetime of this parliament, with a projected £1.2bn shortfall in police funding expected to grow. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago Labour promised people we would rebuild Britain – and that’s what we’re doing | Keir Starmer

This week’s spending review marks a new stage in the mission of national renewal, built on the foundations laid last yearKeir Starmer is the prime minister of the United KingdomThe mandate we received from the British people could not have been clearer. First, we had to stop the chaos and return Britain to economic stability. Second, we had to turn the page on Tory decline with clear Labour choices. Third, we were instructed to rebuild our country.Wednesday’s spending review turbocharged that rebuilding. It is an investment in Britain’s renewal, so working people have more money in their pocket, more pride in their community and more hope for their children’s future. It’s what people voted for. An NHS cutting waiting lists, with care closer to the community. Wealth and opportunity no longer hoarded by only a few towns and cities. Continue reading...

Politics

25 h. ago Government can hit NHS waiting times targets despite scepticism, says Reeves

The NHS has received a 3% increase in real terms per year in the Government spending review.

Events

26 h. ago Treasury minister dismisses claims spending review will lead to autumn tax rises – UK politics live

Darren Jones says such claims are ‘incoherent’ and the government is allocating money that has already been raisedSpending review: key points at a glanceGreen party MPs and activists joined a protest outside parliament today saying the government should use the spending review to announce a wealth tax. In a post on social media, Adrian Ramsay, the party’s co-leader, said:We expect the chancellor to take another axe to public spending today: decline by design from a govt that refuses to tax wealth to properly fund our overstretched public services & support the most vulnerable. We need to invest in a secure & fairer future. #TaxExtremeWealth Continue reading...

Politics

27 h. ago Britain will be ‘defence industrial superpower’ with extra cash, Reeves says

Defence is one of the areas of Government spending which benefited most at the spending review on Wednesday.

Politics

28 h. ago Reeves says use of hotels for asylum seekers to end ‘in this parliament’ – UK politics live

Chancellor delivers spending review, claiming asylum move will save £1bn and says health spending represents a record cash investmentSpending review: key points at a glanceGreen party MPs and activists joined a protest outside parliament today saying the government should use the spending review to announce a wealth tax. In a post on social media, Adrian Ramsay, the party’s co-leader, said:We expect the chancellor to take another axe to public spending today: decline by design from a govt that refuses to tax wealth to properly fund our overstretched public services & support the most vulnerable. We need to invest in a secure & fairer future. #TaxExtremeWealth Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago No guarantee waiting lists will fall to hit targets, health leaders say

The NHs will see a large proportion of the extra cash swallowed by pay rises for staff and existing commitments, experts say.

Events