8 h. ago Energy bills could fall by £250 a year if you live near new pylon project

Ministers are also looking to slash the number of official bodies that get a say in planning decisions in a drive to cut red tape.

Economics

17 h. ago People living near pylons to get money off bills in planning overhaul – report

Ministers are also looking to slash the number of official bodies that get a say in planning decisions in a drive to cut red tape.

Economics

19 h. ago Labour set to slash number of official bodies that get a say in planning decisions in bid to unlock more development

The Government will consult on removing Sport England, the Theatres Trust and the Garden History Society from the list of 'statutory consultees'.

Events

19 h. ago Ministers could cut the number of official bodies that get a say on planning

Officials will consult on removing Sport England, the Theatres Trust and the Garden History Society from the list of ‘statutory consultees’.

Politics

5 d. ago ‘I don’t want my sons in fatigues’ – Jess Phillips defends aid cuts

The minister was asked about the Government’s decision to cut overseas aid to fund a boost to defence spending.

Politics

5 d. ago ‘Moral case’ to cut welfare bill, says minister as Reeves bids to balance books

The Chancellor looks set to curb welfare spending and the cost of the Civil Service in her spring statement.

Politics

6 d. ago SNP accused of 'raiding' £8bn from councils' core funding as tax poised to rise

New analysis has suggested SNP ministers have cut Scottish councils’ core funding by almost £8 billion.

Economics

8 d. ago In this dangerous age, Britain needs to exert soft power as well as the hard stuff | Andrew Rawnsley

Defence spending has to go up, but siphoning money from international aid is a self-defeating follyShortly before he flew to Washington, Sir Keir Starmer turned up in the Commons, put on his sombre voice and declared: “Everything has changed.” One of the more startling transformations has been to Sir Keir himself. The Labour leader came to office thinking, as did most of those who voted for him, that he was going to be a domestically orientated prime minister with primary ambitions to improve living standards, build lots of homes and rejuvenate public services. That’s what “change”, his one-word election slogan, was supposed to be about. When he originally selected his overriding “five missions”, the defence of the realm didn’t make the cut.His central definition today is as a geopolitically focused prime minister who is promising to spend more on guns, missiles and warplanes and less on international aid. More British bullets will be purchased at the expense of succour to the impov...

Politics

9 d. ago I won’t make Britons cut out meat to meet climate goals, says Starmer

Prime minister’s response comes after climate experts called for Britons to cut their meat consumption by 260g a week - the equivalent of two kebabs

Politics

9 d. ago Government must reassure Foreign Office staff after aid cuts, says SNP MP

Chris Law was speaking following the resignation of development minister Anneliese Dodds over the decision to cut the aid budget.

Politics

1 week ago Bodies of 12 Pakistani migrants who died in boat sinking have been repatriated

Officials say the bodies of 12 out of at least 16 Pakistanis who died this month when a boat carrying dozens of Europe-bound migrants sank off Libya’s coast have been repatriated to Pakistan

Events

1 week ago Keir Starmer loses fourth minister in a year in row over move to cut foreign aid budget

Former Conservative deputy foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell praises Labour MP as a ‘politician of decency and principle’

Politics

1 week ago Blow for Keir Starmer as senior Labour minister quits over aid cut to fund defence

Anneliese Dodds said she knew there were no “easy paths” to increase defence spending

Politics

1 week ago Dodds quits as international development minister over aid cut to fund defence

Anneliese Dodds warned that the move would affect the UK’s support for Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.

Politics

1 week ago Anneliese Dodds quits as international development minister over aid budget cut

Scottish Labour MP quits ‘with sadness’ following move to raid aid budget to increase defence spending

Politics

1 week ago Minister Anneliese Dodds resigns over Starmer move to cut foreign aid budget

Minister Anneliese Dodds has dramatically resigned from the government over Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to slash the UK’s foreign aid budget.

Politics

1 week ago Former Scottish Labour first minister Jack McConnell blasts Keir Starmer over foreign aid cuts

Jack McConnell urged the Prime Minister to rethink slashing the international development budget cut from 0.5 per cent of gross national income to 0.3 per cent to increase defence spending.

Politics

1 week ago Foreign aid budget cut will cost lives, warns Labour former first minister

Lord Jack McConnell has urged Number 10 to rethink the decision.

Events

1 week ago Aid cut will have ‘devastating impact’ on world’s poorest, church leaders warn

The Prime Minister recently announced the foreign aid budget will be cut in order to fund an increase in defence spending.

Events

1 week ago Starmer’s cuts are a huge mistake – foreign aid is an investment, not an expense | Halima Begum

At the height of the cold war, the west advanced its soft power through aid and development spending. If we cut that now, who will fill the vacuum?Halima Begum is the chief executive of Oxfam GBThe savagely deep cuts that Keir Starmer has announced to the international aid budget make a mockery of the pledge his party made to the British people in its manifesto. Then, it promised to restore development spending at the level of 0.7% of gross national income “as soon as fiscal circumstances allow”. On Tuesday the prime minister stood in front of parliament and announced that he will cut it from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP. In the same manifesto, Labour made a commitment to “rebuild Britain’s reputation on international development with a new approach based on genuine respect and partnership with the global south”. This week, the government turned its back on it.Of course, I understand the argument that defence spending has to be increased, but cutting our aid budget still further when governm...

Politics