7 h. ago Politics latest: Starmer backs Streeting and refutes ‘completely unacceptable’ No 10 leaks over ‘coup attempt’

Sir Keir said at PMQs that ‘any attack on any member of my Cabinet is completely unacceptable’ after briefings against Wes Streeting by Downing Street aides overnight

Politics

31 h. ago Tim Davie tells BBC staff ‘we have to fight for our journalism’ but does not address Trump’s $1bn lawsuit threat – live

Outgoing director general says freedom of press under pressure and that he sees ‘weaponisation’Here is a round-up of what various lawyers and commentators have been saying about Donald Trump’s legal case against the BBC.Joshua Rozenberg, the legal commentator and a former BBC journalist, has said in a post on his A Lawyer Writes Substack that the corporation should settle. He explains:Given what Brito is claiming, the lawyer is unlikely to be impressed with the BBC’s assertion that “the purpose of editing the clip was to convey the message of the speech made by President Trump so that Panorama’s audience could better understand how it had been received by President Trump’s supporters and what was happening on the ground at that time”.So the BBC would be well advised to draft a retraction and apology in terms that the president’s lawyer finds acceptable. Brito is also calling for this to be broadcast as prominently as the original programme. And the corporation will have to pay compe...

Politics

32 h. ago Tim Davie tells BBC staff ‘we have to fight for our journalism’ as Trump threatens $1bn lawsuit – UK politics live

Outgoing director general says freedom of press under pressure and that he sees ‘weaponisation’Here is a round-up of what various lawyers and commentators have been saying about Donald Trump’s legal case against the BBC.Joshua Rozenberg, the legal commentator and a former BBC journalist, has said in a post on his A Lawyer Writes Substack that the corporation should settle. He explains:Given what Brito is claiming, the lawyer is unlikely to be impressed with the BBC’s assertion that “the purpose of editing the clip was to convey the message of the speech made by President Trump so that Panorama’s audience could better understand how it had been received by President Trump’s supporters and what was happening on the ground at that time”.So the BBC would be well advised to draft a retraction and apology in terms that the president’s lawyer finds acceptable. Brito is also calling for this to be broadcast as prominently as the original programme. And the corporation will have to pay compe...

Politics

34 h. ago Minister suggests BBC should apologise to Trump over documentary as president threatens $1bn lawsuit – UK politics live

Alison McGovern speaks to media about BBC crisis as culture secretary due to address MPs in attempt to contain falloutYesterday Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, gave an interview that indicated very strongly that she will get rid of the two-child benefit cap in full in the budget. It had been reported that the government was only going to partially remove it (by replacing the cap with a softer version, like a three-child benefit cap), but Reeves signalled that the cap will go in its entirety.If anyone did not get the message, Keir Starmer has signalled exactly the same intention – only even more strongly. In an interview with Amir Khan, a doctor and ITV broadcaster, the PM said he was determined to drive child poverty down. In the clip, recorded yesterday but broadcast this morning, Starmer said:I can tell you in no uncertain terms I’m determined to drive child poverty down. It is what the last Labour government did. And it’s one of the things we were proudest of. I am personally dete...

Politics

43 h. ago A stomach doctor says we've all been eating this fruit wrong

Gastroenterologist Dr Joseph Salhab has revealed a common act could be costing you a long list of benefits, from better sleep to improved digestion.

Politics

52 h. ago Major benefits update as Labour welfare chief vows 'no arbitrary target'

Labour's Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said there will no 'arbitrary benefit cut target' as he pledged reforms will focus on helping young people get into work

Events

53 h. ago Chancellor Rachel Reeves drops two major Budget hints on tax and benefits

Chancellor Rachel Reeves indicated the government will scrap the cruel two-child benefit limit at the Budget on November 26 to lift hundreds of thousands out of poverty

Economics

3 d. ago Thousands of child benefit claimants given major update by HMRC over suspended payments

HMRC has issued a major update for tens of thousands of child benefit claimants who had their payments suspended. Some 23,500 UK households were stripped of their child benefit as part of a new crackdown on fraud. Child benefit claimants have their payments stopped if they leave the UK for more than eight weeks under...

Economics

6 d. ago Lucy Powell says Labour must stand by promise not to raise key taxes

New deputy leader also calls on government to lift two-child benefit cap urgently and in full• UK politics live – latest updatesLucy Powell, Labour’s new deputy leader, has said the government should stand by its manifesto commitment not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, amid signs that it may be preparing to break that promise.Powell, who left Keir Starmer’s cabinet in the reshuffle before being elected deputy leader last month, said the budget needed to be about putting more money, not less, into ordinary people’s pockets. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago MPs spar over response to Cambridgeshire train attack – UK politics live

Lib Dem spokesperson says Reform ‘trying to exploit incident for political gain’ and shadow home secretary’s remarks are ‘beneath contempt’Farage is speaking now. He says another “depressing budget hoves into view”. It will be a budget that “doesn’t have the guts to cut public spending”.He says Britain has been living under an illusion.I think for some years we’ve actually been living under an illusion. We’ve not been prepared to face up to just how much of an economic mess we genuinely in.As we slipped down the global league tables, we kid ourselves that it’s OK, we’ve got GDP growth. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Farage accused of betraying pensioners after triple lock hint in speech Tories say was rambling and incoherent – UK politics live

Reform leader refuses to commit to keeping mechanism that guarantees how pensions are increasedFarage is speaking now. He says another “depressing budget hoves into view”. It will be a budget that “doesn’t have the guts to cut public spending”.He says Britain has been living under an illusion.I think for some years we’ve actually been living under an illusion. We’ve not been prepared to face up to just how much of an economic mess we genuinely in.As we slipped down the global league tables, we kid ourselves that it’s OK, we’ve got GDP growth. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Farage accused of betraying pensioners but praised for ‘fiscal discipline’ after triple lock hint – politics live

Reform leader refuses to commit to keeping mechanism that guarantees how pensions are increasedFarage is speaking now. He says another “depressing budget hoves into view”. It will be a budget that “doesn’t have the guts to cut public spending”.He says Britain has been living under an illusion.I think for some years we’ve actually been living under an illusion. We’ve not been prepared to face up to just how much of an economic mess we genuinely in.As we slipped down the global league tables, we kid ourselves that it’s OK, we’ve got GDP growth. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Farage claims Brexit opportunities have been ‘squandered’ and says he wants as many rich people as possible in the UK – politics live

Reform UK leader says he expects Labour to be forced into an austerity budget before the next electionFarage is speaking now. He says another “depressing budget hoves into view”. It will be a budget that “doesn’t have the guts to cut public spending”.He says Britain has been living under an illusion.I think for some years we’ve actually been living under an illusion. We’ve not been prepared to face up to just how much of an economic mess we genuinely in.As we slipped down the global league tables, we kid ourselves that it’s OK, we’ve got GDP growth. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Labour says Farage would revive austerity as he prepares to set out economic vision in speech – UK politics live

Reform UK leader expected to promise deregulation and spending cuts as Labour and Conservatives attack policiesThe Tories claim Reform UK are “leftwing” partly on the basis of Nigel Farage’s welfare policies. In particular, in their briefing overnight (see 9.34am), the Tories backed this up by saying that they would cut welfare spending by £23bn, when Reform’s plans (so far) only add up to £9bn, and that Farage would abolish the two-child benefit cap (but only for British parents working full-time, Politico reports).The “leftwing” description is even harder to sustain in the light of this report for Politico by Dan Bloom about Reform’s economic plans.Let’s be clear, we’ve said we don’t guarantee it. Everything’s up for review, because nothing’s affordable if we keep spending more than we’re earning. And we’ve said that consistently if we the country go bust, which is the direction of travel we’re heading, one way or the other, nothing’s affordable.You’re not asking about the much, m...

Politics

1 week ago Reeves says she should have checked rental licence had been obtained as letting agent apologises – UK politics live

No 10 releases redacted emails between Reeves’ husband and letting agentRachel Reeves’ rental error: standards adviser looking at new informationRobert Peston, ITV’s political editor, says he thinks it is a mistake for the Conservatives to be saying Rachel Reeves should have to resign over the rental licence error. He explains why in a post on social media. Here is an extract.Kemi Badenoch’s call for Starmer to sack Reeves, for failing to register her family home when she rented it on moving to Downing Street, lowers the bar quite significantly for sackable offences by ministers. I am not certain all her shadow cabinet colleagues will thank her.The point is that there is a clear distinction between Rayner’s failure to take stamp duty advice and Reeves’s failure to register her home with the council for rent. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Labour gives latest update on PIP disability benefit review after U

Sir Stephen Timms has commissioned a review on the personal independence payment (PIP)

Politics

1 week ago DWP announces major PIP review update that will 'shape benefits system'

Labour had previously proposed changing the PIP scoring system - however, this was scrapped by following backlash from MPs, disability charities and campaigners

Politics

1 week ago Two disability experts appointed to help lead Government review of major benefit

Sir Stephen Timms suggested disabled people would be placed ‘at the heart’ of the review he is undertaking into personal independent payments.

Politics

2 w. ago Iceland announces major UK supermarket shake up with customers set to benefit

Iceland has announced a major change in its UK supermarkets - which will see the frozen food retailer reduce the price of 250 products popular with over-60s until November 5

Economics

2 w. ago Iceland makes major change to UK stores with pensioners to benefit

Iceland has announced it will be cutting the price on hundreds of products

Politics