9 h. ago Hospitality industry facing huge 'stealth tax' as Chancellor Rachel Reeves is accused of delivering 'smoke and mirrors' Budget

On Wednesday, the Chancellor announced a reform of business rates, which critics have claimed is a 'stealth tax' on the high street which could trigger mass shop closures early next year.

Events

14 h. ago 'Liar' Reeves must go now: Chancellor accused of 'deliberately crashing the economy' with Benefits Street Budget and faces call to resign after 'lying' to the nation

In an extraordinary move, the fiscal watchdog yesterday revealed that the Chancellor was told months ago that there was no hole in the public finances.

Events

18 h. ago No 10 denies Reeves misled public over the UK's finances ahead of Budget

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the Chancellor had ‘lied to the public’ and should be sacked

Economics

20 h. ago Woman who threatened Rachel Reeves’ sister with ‘bullets’ jailed for harassment

Tracey Smith sent her MP Ellie Reeves emails and voicemails accusing her sister, the chancellor, of physically assaulting her

Events

21 h. ago Trans woman who bombarded Rachel Reeves's MP sister with threatening emails calling her 'transphobic' and accusing chancellor of assaulting her is jailed for harassment

Tracey Smith, pictured, a trans woman, sent Chancellor's sister Ellie Reeves - her local MP - a stream of emails and voicemails amounting to harassment.

Events

21 h. ago No 10 denies Reeves misled over black hole as OBR letter challenges warnings

The Chancellor was told in October by the Budget watchdog that her spending plans would no longer incur a black hole.

Events

25 h. ago Rachel Reeves’ uncle blasts Budget as 'worst I’ve ever heard'

His comments come as the Chancellor is accused of breaking a Labour manifesto pledge amid £26billion of tax rises

Politics

46 h. ago Asylum seekers now make up 44 PER CENT of net migration to Britain

The number of asylum seekers coming to Britain has surged to a record high, making up 44 per cent of total net migration.

Events

46 h. ago Starmer says budget did not break manifesto tax pledge and scrapping two

PM says: ‘We kept to our manifesto in terms of what we’ve promised. But I accept the challenge that we’ve asked everybody to contribute’Ask the Guardian your budget questionsShare your views on the new ‘mansion tax’Budget calculator: find out if you are better or worse offThe Conservative party is attacking the budget on the grounds that Rachel Reeves is putting up taxes supposedly to fund more spending on benefit claimants. Even though the rationale for this claim is questionable, the Tories were making it before the budget was announced, and Kemi Badenoch firmed it up last night, claiming it was a “Benefits Street budget”.On LBC this morning, asked if the budget meant “alarm clock Britain paying for Benefits Street”, Reeves said she did not accept that. She said 60% of the families that would benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit cap (the most expensive welfare announcement in the budget) were in work.I don’t think children should be punished by this pernicious policy ...

Economics

48 h. ago Reeves should have included more tax reform in budget to help growth, IFS thinktank says – UK politics live

Institute for Fiscal Studies director says chancellors continue to ‘shy away from meaningful tax reform that could move the dial’Ask the Guardian your budget questionsShare your views on the new ‘mansion tax’ Budget calculator: find out if you are better or worse offThe Conservative party is attacking the budget on the grounds that Rachel Reeves is putting up taxes supposedly to fund more spending on benefit claimants. Even though the rationale for this claim is questionable, the Tories were making it before the budget was announced, and Kemi Badenoch firmed it up last night, claiming it was a “Benefits Street budget”.On LBC this morning, asked if the budget meant “alarm clock Britain paying for Benefits Street”, Reeves said she did not accept that. She said 60% of the families that would benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit cap (the most expensive welfare announcement in the budget) were in work.I don’t think children should be punished by this pernicious policy any lo...

Politics

49 h. ago Betting giants say Budget tax raid will hurt jobs, close bookies and boost black market

Britain's biggest gambling firms have warned the Budget tax raid on the sector will cost jobs, close high street bookies and strengthen illegal black market operators.

Economics

49 h. ago Reeves dismisses Tory claims of ‘Benefits Street budget’ – UK politics live

Chancellor says 60% of families that will be better off after the two-child limit is scrapped are in workAsk the Guardian your budget questionsBudget calculator: find out if you are better or worse offThe Conservative party is attacking the budget on the grounds that Rachel Reeves is putting up taxes supposedly to fund more spending on benefit claimants. Even though the rationale for this claim is questionable, the Tories were making it before the budget was announced, and Kemi Badenoch firmed it up last night, claiming it was a “Benefits Street budget”.On LBC this morning, asked if the budget meant “alarm clock Britain paying for Benefits Street”, Reeves said she did not accept that. She said 60% of the families that would benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit cap (the most expensive welfare announcement in the budget) were in work.I don’t think children should be punished by this pernicious policy any longer. And the cost to society of this is huge, the cost for counci...

Politics

3 d. ago Liverpool parade crash trial – latest: Paul Doyle admits deliberately driving into crowds of football fans

Paul Doyle, 54, admitted 31 offences at Liverpool Crown Court over the incident at Liverpool FC’s victory parade

Events

3 d. ago Experts issue stark warning to shoppers as high street favourites struggle to survive

Even good-cause retailers are struggling in the current economic climate. Ahead of Rachel Reeves Budget, in the latest blow to the hight street, they warn of surging costs, mounting costs and poor quality donations

Events

3 d. ago Budget blues batter the High Street as confidence falls at fastest pace for 17 years

The Confederation of British Industry found confidence among shopkeepers and store chains has suffered the biggest drop since the financial crisis in 2008.

Politics

4 d. ago 'I'm only buying second hand presents for kids this Christmas

Mum Lauren Ralph, 28, has ditched the high street and turned to Vinted and charity shops to stretch her budget further this Christmas - and she's not the only one

Politics

4 d. ago I’ve saved over £100 on my girl’s Christmas gifts & got everything on her list including Disney dolls & Hey Dugee toys

A MUM is saving big this Christmas by snapping up second-hand toys and gifts. With festive costs soaring, Lauren Ralph has ditched the high street and turned to Vinted to stretch her budget further. “I already use Vinted regularly, so it felt like a natural step to buy Christmas presents there too,” the 28-year-old said....

Economics

4 d. ago 'Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer's Budget is simply buying more time on political death row'

The PM and Chancellor are hoping their Budget will save their skins, says Fleet Street Fox. They'll be lucky to make it past Christmas

Politics

8 d. ago Felipe Massa’s £64m claim over 2008 F1 title can go to trial, rules judge

F1, FIA and Bernie Ecclestone are defending the claimsBrazilian former driver says he is the rightful winnerFelipe Massa’s £64m claim against Formula One, its governing body the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone over Lewis Hamilton’s first F1 world championship in 2008 can go to trial, a high court judge has ruled.Massa claims he is the rightful champion after the Brazilian lost by a single point when Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed at the Singapore Grand Prix. Ecclestone, who was F1’s impresario for four decades before he was deposed in 2017, suggested in 2023 that the sport’s executives were aware of the cover-up – which became known as Crashgate – before the 2008 campaign concluded. The 95-year-old Ecclestone, the FIA and Formula One Management are defending the claims. Continue reading...

Economics

8 d. ago Felipe Massa’s £64m claim over Crashgate can go to trial, rules judge

F1, FIA and Bernie Ecclestone are defending the claimsBrazilian former driver says he is rightful 2008 winnerFelipe Massa’s £64m claim against Formula One, its governing body the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone over Lewis Hamilton’s first F1 world championship in 2008 can go to trial, a high court judge has ruled.Massa claims he is the rightful champion after the Brazilian lost by a single point when Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed at the Singapore Grand Prix. Ecclestone, who was F1’s impresario for four decades before he was deposed in 2017, suggested in 2023 that the sport’s executives were aware of the cover-up – which became known as Crashgate – before the 2008 campaign concluded. The 95-year-old Ecclestone, the FIA and Formula One Management are defending the claims. Continue reading...

Events