2 h. ago Welfare bill climbdown will have ‘a cost’ at budget, says senior minister

Pat McFadden says U-turn will change calculations, as IFS says tax rises in autumn look increasingly likelyUK politics live – latest updatesThere will be “a cost” to the government’s climbdown on welfare changes at the budget, one of Keir Starmer’s senior ministers has said, as a leading fiscal thinktank said new tax rises appeared increasingly likely.Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, defended Starmer and the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, after the second reading of the government’s main welfare bill passed its first Commons test only after a central element was removed. Continue reading...

Economics

6 h. ago Bosses at Glasgow council live entertainment firm awarded nearly £120,000 in bonuses

EXCLUSIVE: The top ups were awarded despite the council having to make cuts and raise tax.

Economics

15 h. ago ‘Music to my ears’: Trump welcomes Senate passage of his sweeping tax and spending bill – live updates

Vice-president JD Vance was in the chamber to break the tie after three Republicans voted against president’s sweeping tax and spending billWhat’s in Trump’s big, beautiful bill? Tax cuts, deportations and moreThe senate has adopted an amendment offered by Republican senator Joni Ernst – who represents Iowa - to prevent jobless millionaires from claiming unemployment compensation.Lawmakers voted 99-1 to strike the AI regulation ban from the bill by adopting an amendment offered by Republican senator Marsha Blackburn. Continue reading...

Economics

15 h. ago Labour welfare bill latest: Starmer’s benefits cuts plan scrapes through Commons after key reform abandoned

MPs debating second reading of bill in Commons ahead of crunch vote

Economics

16 h. ago Labour welfare bill latest: Starmer abandons key benefits reform in last

MPs debating second reading of bill in Commons ahead of crunch vote

Economics

17 h. ago ‘Music to my ears’: Trump welcomes Senate passage of ‘big, beautiful bill’ – live updates

Vice-president JD Vance was in the chamber to break the tie after three Republicans voted against president’s sweeping tax and spending billWhat’s in Trump’s big, beautiful bill? Tax cuts, deportations and moreThe senate has adopted an amendment offered by Republican senator Joni Ernst – who represents Iowa - to prevent jobless millionaires from claiming unemployment compensation.Lawmakers voted 99-1 to strike the AI regulation ban from the bill by adopting an amendment offered by Republican senator Marsha Blackburn. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Senate narrowly passes Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ spending bill after three Republicans vote no – live updates

Vice-president JD Vance was in the chamber to break the tieWhat’s in Trump’s big, beautiful bill? Tax cuts, deportations and moreThe senate has adopted an amendment offered by Republican senator Joni Ernst – who represents Iowa - to prevent jobless millionaires from claiming unemployment compensation.Lawmakers voted 99-1 to strike the AI regulation ban from the bill by adopting an amendment offered by Republican senator Marsha Blackburn. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Labour welfare bill latest: Starmer offers rebel MPs fresh concession ahead of vote

MPs debating second reading of bill in Commons ahead of crunch vote

Politics

18 h. ago Starmer set to offer Labour MPs further welfare bill concession

PM to make final attempt to get bill over the line with dozens of backbenchers still planning to vote against itUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer is set to offer Labour backbenchers a further concession over disability benefits in a last-ditch attempt to limit the largest rebellion of his premiership and get his controversial welfare bill over the line.The Guardian understands the existing eligibility threshold due to be introduced for disability benefits under the new plans could now remain in place until after the completion of a review into the criteria used to assess people. Continue reading...

Economics

19 h. ago No 10 considers further concessions on welfare bill just hours before vote – UK politics live

Guardian deputy political editor Jessica Elgot says another concession to rebels MPs is possible Compass, the leftwing group urging Labour to be more pluralistic, has put out a statement condemning the UC and Pip bill. Its director, Neal Lawson, said:If your own friends are telling you to put the brakes on, then something has clearly gone wrong. Despite the government’s line, this legislation does not advance Labour values. It is fundamentally at odds with them, and with the views of the mainstream of the party and civil society.”MPs from across the House, and especially the Labour side, must back Rachael Maskell’s reasoned amendment. This bill’s creation of a three-tiered social security system would condemn thousands to poverty and could lose Labour the next election.A bill of this magnitude should have been co-produced with disabled people and our organisations from the very start.Now, ministers scramble to promise ‘consultation’ as one small part of the process. That is too litt...

Politics

19 h. ago Labour welfare bill latest: Rebel MPs lash out at Starmer over ‘Dickensian’ benefit cuts ahead of vote

MPs debating second reading of bill in Commons ahead of crunch vote

Politics

19 h. ago Labour rebel criticises ‘Dickensian’ welfare cuts as MPs debate bill ahead of vote – UK politics live

MPs are debating the universal credit and Pip bill as Lindsay Hoyle says he has selected amendment tabled by Rachael MaskellCompass, the leftwing group urging Labour to be more pluralistic, has put out a statement condemning the UC and Pip bill. Its director, Neal Lawson, said:If your own friends are telling you to put the brakes on, then something has clearly gone wrong. Despite the government’s line, this legislation does not advance Labour values. It is fundamentally at odds with them, and with the views of the mainstream of the party and civil society.”MPs from across the House, and especially the Labour side, must back Rachael Maskell’s reasoned amendment. This bill’s creation of a three-tiered social security system would condemn thousands to poverty and could lose Labour the next election.A bill of this magnitude should have been co-produced with disabled people and our organisations from the very start.Now, ministers scramble to promise ‘consultation’ as one small part of th...

Politics

20 h. ago Labour welfare bill latest: Top barrister warns Starmer benefit cuts could break international law

MPs debating second reading of bill in Commons ahead of crunch vote

Events

22 h. ago Marathon vote on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ continues as ‘vote

Massive tax-and-spending bill is critical to US president’s agenda but faces division and splitsThe senate has adopted an amendment offered by Republican senator Joni Ernst – who represents Iowa - to prevent jobless millionaires from claiming unemployment compensation.Lawmakers voted 99-1 to strike the AI regulation ban from the bill by adopting an amendment offered by Republican senator Marsha Blackburn. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Senate holds vote marathon on amendments to Trump’s ‘one big beautiful bill’ – US politics live

Senators vote on potentially long list of amendments; White House confirms negotiations will restart after tech tax scrappedThom Tillis says he will not seek re-election after Trump clashNearly 300 current and recently terminated employees of the US Environmental Protection Agency published a declaration of dissent today, outlining five major concerns about how the Trump administration’s politicization of science and severe job cuts were undermining the agency’s mission.The declaration to administrator Lee Zeldin was sent as another expected round of staff reductions looms and as the agency undergoes a major reorganization, including the dissolution of its office of research and cancelling of billions of dollars in grants.Your decisions and actions will reverberate for generations to come. EPA under your leadership will not protect communities from hazardous chemicals and unsafe drinking water, but instead will increase risks to public health and safety. Continue reading...

Politics

41 h. ago Liz Kendall ignores call from Labour MP for welfare bill to be withdrawn – UK politics live

Andy McDonald says MPs are being asked to vote without vital evidence but work and pensions secretary says employment support programmes are being improvedThe Department for Work and Pensions has just published an analysis saying that, allowing for the concesssions announced last week, the welfare cuts will still push an extra 150,000 people into relative poverty.Here is the key chart from the document. Continue reading...

Economics

42 h. ago Senate kicks off final debate on Trump’s ‘one big beautiful bill’; US to restart Canada trade talks immediately – live

Senators will vote on potentially long list of amendments; White House confirms negotiations will restart after tech tax scrappedThom Tillis says he will not seek re-election after Trump clashNearly 300 current and recently terminated employees of the US Environmental Protection Agency published a declaration of dissent today, outlining five major concerns about how the Trump administration’s politicization of science and severe job cuts were undermining the agency’s mission.The declaration to administrator Lee Zeldin was sent as another expected round of staff reductions looms and as the agency undergoes a major reorganization, including the dissolution of its office of research and cancelling of billions of dollars in grants.Your decisions and actions will reverberate for generations to come. EPA under your leadership will not protect communities from hazardous chemicals and unsafe drinking water, but instead will increase risks to public health and safety. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago Liz Kendall makes statement to MPs about welfare bill concessions – UK politics live

Work and pensions secretary speaks to parliament as No 10 disputes figures showing benefit cuts to push 150,000 more into povertyThe Department for Work and Pensions has just published an analysis saying that, allowing for the concesssions announced last week, the welfare cuts will still push an extra 150,000 people into relative poverty.Here is the key chart from the document. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Trump’s justice department issues directive to strip naturalized Americans of citizenship for civil offenses

Memo says those subjected to civil proceedings are not entitled to an attorney like they are in criminal casesUS politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration has codified its efforts to strip some Americans of their US citizenship in a recently published justice department memo that directs attorneys to prioritize denaturalization for naturalized citizens who commit certain crimes.The memo, published on 11 June, calls on attorneys in the department to institute civil proceedings to revoke a person’s United States citizenship if an individual either “illegally procured” naturalization or procured naturalization by “concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation”. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Trump’s justice department issues directive to strip naturalized Americans of citizenship for criminal offenses

Memo says those subjected to civil proceedings are not entitled to an attorney like they are in criminal casesUS politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration has codified its efforts to strip some Americans of their US citizenship in a recently published justice department memo that directs attorneys to prioritize denaturalization for naturalized citizens who commit certain crimes.The memo, published on 11 June, calls on attorneys in the department to institute civil proceedings to revoke a person’s United States citizenship if an individual either “illegally procured” naturalization or procured naturalization by “concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation”. Continue reading...

Politics