4 h. ago Keir Starmer to host Cabinet meeting after poaching top Rachel Reeves aide in No 10 reshuffle

The Prime Minister is celebrating his 63rd birthday today as he faces a host of challenges from the small boats crisis to tight public finances

Politics

24 h. ago Rachel Reeves admits Brits 'feel stuck' as dire poll finds nearly two

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing a brutal Budget reckoning this Autumn with warnings she has a black hole of up to £50billion to fill.

Politics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves plots raid on small businesses with £2billion VAT hike in autumn Budget

Officials are looking at proposals to slash the threshold at which small businesses and sole traders have to register for VAT. Pictured: Rachel Reeves

Economics

4 d. ago Rachel Reeves warned hiking levies on landlords will 'hurt tenants' with increased rents and fewer homes amid fury at 'Baldrick' Chancellor's latest property tax raid

The Chancellor is reportedly considering a tax raid on landlords by imposing National Insurance on rental income as she looks to plug a £50billion spending hole.

Events

5 d. ago Kirstie Allsopp leads fury at Rachel Reeves' latest property tax raid: Anger at Chancellor's 'cunning plan' to hike levies on landlords sees her accused of 'running the economy like Baldrick'

Treasury officials are said to be looking at proposals to levy £2billion from property earnings as they scramble for revenue-raisers ahead of the Budget this autumn.

Economics

5 d. ago Rachel Reeves 'plots tax raid on landlords by applying National Insurance to rental income' as Chancellor looks to plug £50bn spending hole

Treasury officials are said to be looking at proposals to levy £2billion from property earnings as they scramble for revenue-raisers ahead of the Budget this autumn.

Economics

9 d. ago Rachel Reeves set to launch 'stealth tax raid' on workers to help fill Labour's £50bn black hole in public finances

The Labour minister is reportedly set to introduce a six-year freeze on income tax thresholds rather than increasing them in line with the cost of living or inflation .

Economics

9 d. ago Former Sri Lankan president admitted to hospital after arrest

Ranil Wickremesinghe, who faces charges of using public funds for private travel, treated for acute dehydrationSri Lanka’s former president was admitted to hospital on Saturday, a day after he was charged with using public funds to finance private international travel, as the government intensified its crackdown on corruption.Ranil Wickremesinghe, 76, was remanded in custody on Friday after being accused of using taxpayers’ money to pay for a two-day visit to the UK in September 2023 to attend a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton granting an honorary professorship to his wife. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Labour rakes record £100 BILLION of taxes in July as Rachel Reeves plots new raid on middle classes to repair 'chronically weak' public finances

The haul - the highest ever for July - was boosted by Rachel Reeves' employer national insurance raid. However, that policy is also blamed for making it harder for firms to hire.

Economics

1 week ago Which tax rises could fill the £50bn black hole in Britain’s balance sheet?

The Independent looks at Rachel Reeves’ options as she looks to fill the gaping hole in Britain’s public finances this autumn

Economics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves considers ‘mansion tax’ to fill Treasury black hole

The chancellor is seeking ways to raise cash in the face of dire warnings about the state of the public finances

Politics

1 week ago Worrying number of pubs and restaurants that have put prices up revealed

Tax increases announced by Labour to tackle a hole in the public finances have led to price increases and job cuts throughout the hospitality sector, say bosses, as they called for help from the Chancellor

Politics

1 week ago Reeves explores reform to capital gains tax on expensive houses

UK Treasury considers overhaul of property levies as ministers confront a hole in the public finances of at least £20bn 

Economics

1 week ago Reeves explores reform of capital gains tax on expensive houses

UK Treasury considers overhaul of property levies as ministers confront hole in public finances of at least £20bn 

Economics

2 w. ago Kirstie Allsopp leads fury at Rachel Reeves' new property tax plan 'to punish Britons for working hard': Labour raid on ALL homes worth more than £500k is 'wealth tax in all but name'

The Chancellor has been accused of seeking to 'punish people' for making sacrifices to buy their own homes.

Economics

2 w. ago Fury at Rachel Reeves' new property tax plan to 'punish Britons for working hard': Labour raid on ALL homes worth more than £500k is 'wealth tax in all but name'

The Chancellor has been accused of seeking to 'punish people' for making sacrifices to buy their own homes.

Economics

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves plots a new property tax raid on ALL homes worth more than £500,000 AND a new 'local property tax'

The Chancellor is said to have ordered Treasury officials to examine reforms to the current stamp duty system.

Economics

2 w. ago Reeves looks at UK property tax reforms in bid to boost growth and revenue

Treasury officials examine range of measures as chancellor seeks to address looming gap in public finances

Politics

2 w. ago Tax the rich more to fill black hole in public finances, Labour members tell Starmer

Exclusive: PM urged to conduct a ‘radical change of direction’ as the government attempts to plug gaps in the public finances

Economics

2 w. ago French borrowing costs close in on Italy’s as investors fret over debts

Anxiety grows over France’s public finances just as Rome improves its standing with bondholders

Economics