5 h. ago Miliband's dash for Net Zero lands millions of families with yet another energy bills hike this winter

Rachel Reeves is now considering action in next week's Budget to remove the cost of things like connecting wind farms to the grid from energy bills and pay for them through general taxation.

Economics

6 h. ago Criminals under 25 to face jail under crackdown plan backed by Scottish Labour

EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Labour will review anti-jail sentencing guidelines if they win in May.

Events

7 h. ago Defence Secretary John Healey underpaid tax on second home after council ‘error’

Mr Healey underpaid around £1,500 in tax after an “administrative error” by the local authority, Westminster Council

Society

8 h. ago Defence Secretary facing embarrassment after failing to pay full council tax on his second home in Westminster

Mr Healey became the latest senior minister to face questions about his financial affairs after an 'administrative error' by Westminster Council left him underpaying by almost £1,500.

Society

18 h. ago Kensington and Chelsea could double council tax bills on second homes

The Tory-run council managed to dodge implementing the levy in April when others did, but now say financial pressures have forced their hand

Economics

36 h. ago Kensington and Chelsea poised to double council tax bills on second homes

The Tory-run council managed to dodge implementing the levy in April when others did, but now say financial pressures have forced their hand

Economics

37 h. ago Families in suburbs and shires 'face even HIGHER council tax bills' as ministers announce billions of pounds in government funding will be shifted to Labour's urban heartlands

The government is facing a bitter backlash after unveiling a 'fairer' funding system targeting central resources on areas classified as suffering 'deprivation'.

Politics

40 h. ago Budget 2025: Millions of households expected to save £80 a year on one household bill

Brits will find out the full extent of Labour's plans for the economy when the Autumn Budget is delivered on November 26

Economics

40 h. ago How could council tax change in budget – and who would be hardest hit?

How could council tax change in budget – and who would be hardest hit?  The Guardian

Economics

51 h. ago Labour ‘planning council tax hike of 10% for millions’ avoiding referendum as some regions in UK set to reap more cash

LABOUR MPs are looking at hiking council tax by 10 per cent for millions of Brits in regions of the UK without a referendum, The i Paper reports. This will mean local authorities in London could raise their council tax rates above the 5 per cent cap that is currently set without public vote. The...

Economics

63 h. ago ‘I fled Africa to safety in the UK – Starmer’s migrant crackdown means I could be sent back’

Shams Moussa says despite a change of government in his home country, he’s feel like an ‘alien’ as he condemned Labour’s plan to return refugees as part of a planned overhaul of the asylum system

Events

63 h. ago Budget 2025: Which tax rises could hit you as Chancellor Rachel Reeves targets millions with new levies?

London and the South East are set to be most impact by a wave of tax changes to plug a shortfall of around £20 billion

Economics

65 h. ago Mapped: Where mansion tax could hit as Reeves looks at raising council tax rates

Around 310,000 high-value homeowners could be hit by proposals to tweak council tax bands

Events

3 d. ago Lack of planning has hit Labour’s efforts to fix public services, says thinktank

Keir Starmer accused of failing to adequately strategise while in opposition, leading to uncoordinated policymaking Keir Starmer is failing to make major improvements to public services partly because he did not plan properly while in opposition, according to a report from the Institute for Government (IfG).The prime minister went into government without a clear idea about how to achieve his targets, the IfG found, resulting in haphazard attempts to reform various sectors, from the health service to the courts. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Britain’s migration crisis: Is Labour’s crackdown targeting the right people?

As Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood faces a Labour revolt over her planned overhaul of the asylum system, Alex Ross looks at how effective the measures would be

Events

3 d. ago Every Labour MP elected on pledge to secure borders, Reed says amid backlash

Some Labour backbenchers have publicly condemned plans to overhaul the asylum system.

Politics

3 d. ago Reform UK's Nigel Farage to address the nation today in 'bear the brunt' attack

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will also accuse Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves of planning to increase taxes on working people to fund a bloated benefits bill

Events

3 d. ago UK asylum reforms will harm community cohesion, says Scottish minister

The plans have also been criticised by some Labour backbenchers.

Politics

4 d. ago The Guardian view on Labour’s asylum plans: ministers cannot out

Shabana Mahmood’s asylum overhaul burdens an overstretched system and hands political advantage to her opponentsIn government, politicians often mistake gestures for progress. It is disappointing to see Shabana Mahmood succumb to that temptation. The home secretary’s flurry of proposals are designed to signal purpose, but constitute a wishlist of demands that her department can’t deliver. Currently, those fleeing persecution are given a five-year right to stay in the country and can apply for settled status after that. Ms Mahmood wants refugees to stay in the country initially only for a 30-month period, and then review their status to see whether they will be allowed to remain in the country for another 30 months. After two decades in Britain, they could apply to stay here permanently.Denmark is held up as the model. A decade ago a centre-left government there was under pressure, with a surging populist right and immigration dominating voters’ concerns. Danish Social Democrats clai...

Politics

4 d. ago Shabana Mahmood tells MPs asylum system is ‘out of control and unfair’ amid Labour backlash over proposals – UK politics live

Labour MP calls government’s asylum plans ‘dystopian’ as home secretary announces measures in CommonsMomentum, the leftwing Labour group, has also denounced the government’s asylum plans. In a statement it says:The home secretary’s new immigration plans are divisive and xenophobic.Scapegoating migrants will not fix our public services or end austerity.Draconian, unworkable and potentially illegal anti-asylum policies only feed Reform’s support.The government has learnt nothing from the period since the general election.Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening:Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers. Continue reading...

Politics