5 h. ago David Lammy deploys army of top diplomats to kickstart economic growth and combat impact of Trump tariffs

Exclusive: With a failure to deliver economic growth leaving an estimated £18bn in Rachel Reeves’ budget, the use of senior diplomats to bolster engagement with business is just the latest part of a strategy to turn things around

Politics

8 d. ago Voices: When it’s Rachel Reeves vs Andrew Bailey, I know who my money’s on

The governor of the Bank of England's response to the chancellor trying to talk up the flagging jobs market is quietly devastating, writes James Moore

Politics

1 week ago UK's military and spy services set for £330m AI tech boost to help track enemies

Hundreds of millions of pounds will be invested in cutting-edge drones and artificial intelligence for the military as part of Rachel Reeves' attempt to revive the flagging economy.

Events

2 w. ago Gardeners issued urgent 'do not' warning if they see ladybirds on plants

Ladybirds are a crucial part of keeping plants and natural ecosystems alive, and one gardening expert has shared his crucial advice to anyone who notices them on their plants

Events

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves's policies will see UK economy 'muddle through' for next two years, CBI warns

It marks the latest downbeat verdict on Ms Reeves's performance as Chancellor - and undermines Keir Starmer's claim that Labour has 'fixed the foundations of the economy'.

Events

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves's policies will see UK economy just 'muddle through' for the next two years, industry group warns

It marks the latest downbeat verdict on Ms Reeves's performance as Chancellor - and undermines Keir Starmer's claim that Labour has 'fixed the foundations of the economy'.

Events

2 w. ago How do I stop my pension being used to promote economic growth

I note Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the Mansion House Accord will 'boost pension pots', which ignores the downside risk. And I do not want to take part.

Economics

3 w. ago UK’s FTSE 100 share index hits record closing high despite economy shrinking in April – business live

UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, biggest fall since October 2023, as trade with the US slumped.. but FTSE 100 ends at new record closeFull story: UK economy shrinks by 0.3% as as exports hit by Trump trade warNicholas Hyett, Investment Manager at Wealth Club, blames “a cocktail of headwinds to growth” for the 0.3% fall in UK GDP in April.Hyett says:In the very short term the change to Stamp Duty rules have put the legal and property services on ice - with legal activities down 10.2% month-on-month.New barriers to trade with the US and changes to employment costs, from a higher living wage and increased national insurance contributions, are a longer term challenge.“The 0.3% m/m fall in real GDP in April supports our view that the strength in Q1 was unsustainable. This won’t prompt the Bank of England to cut interest rates next Thursday. But it is one more piece of news pointing to another cut in August.”We still expect the Bank Rate to be maintained at 4.25% in the June meeting, t...

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves hit with headache after economy shrinks amid fresh fears of tax hikes

The Office for National Statistics said the UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April. Meanwhile, experts are warning that council tax bills will rise following Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spending review

Economics

3 w. ago Tax rises will come if economy shrinks further, IFS warns Rachel Reeves after Spending Review

The Spending Review delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves has had a mixed response.

Events

3 w. ago Voices: First the spending review, now the economy – what else lies in wait for Rachel Reeves?

Official figures showed UK plc plunged into the red in April, contracting by 0.3 per cent. There is no sugar-coating how bad of a result that is for the chancellor, writes James Moore

Economics

3 w. ago Tax rises 'almost inevitable' as IFS torches Rachel Reeves' spending plans warning NHS and defence will need topping up and cost

IFS director Paul Johnson said he would be 'very surprised indeed' if heath and defence funding did not need topping up before the next election.

Events

3 w. ago Largest ever plunge in UK exports to US as Trump tariffs hurt growth; dollar hits three

UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, biggest fall since October 2023, as trade with the US slumpedFull story: UK economy shrinks by 0.3% as as exports hit by Trump trade warNicholas Hyett, Investment Manager at Wealth Club, blames “a cocktail of headwinds to growth” for the 0.3% fall in UK GDP in April.Hyett says:In the very short term the change to Stamp Duty rules have put the legal and property services on ice - with legal activities down 10.2% month-on-month.New barriers to trade with the US and changes to employment costs, from a higher living wage and increased national insurance contributions, are a longer term challenge.“The 0.3% m/m fall in real GDP in April supports our view that the strength in Q1 was unsustainable. This won’t prompt the Bank of England to cut interest rates next Thursday. But it is one more piece of news pointing to another cut in August.”We still expect the Bank Rate to be maintained at 4.25% in the June meeting, to allow still troubling earnings growth ...

Politics

3 w. ago Tax hikes will come if economy shrinks any further, IFS warns Rachel Reeves

In a scathing assessment, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggested the Treasury was at times ‘making up the numbers’

Events

3 w. ago IFS torches Rachel Reeves' spending plans warning NHS and defence will need topping up and cost

IFS director Paul Johnson said he would be 'very surprised indeed' if heath and defence funding did not need topping up before the next election.

Events

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves fails to rule out future tax rises as economy shrinks

However, the Chancellor repeated her promise that she would not need to increase taxes on the same scale as last year.

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out Autumn Budget tax rises as economy shrinks 0.3% in April

Latest GDP estimate worse than the 0.1% fall expected by economists

Economics

3 w. ago Blow for Rachel Reeves after UK economy shrinks by more than expected

The UK economy contracted by 0.3% in April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Politics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves seized her moment – whatever the future brings, Labour’s economic course is now set | Martin Kettle

The chancellor is no mere technocrat: her spending review revealed a visceral commitment to social and economic mobilityThe consensus has long been that the 2025 spending review would be a defining moment for Keir Starmer’s government. For once, the consensus proved spot-on. The government’s main priorities were set out on Wednesday in a blizzard of Commons announcements from Rachel Reeves, some economically substantive, others more for show. The upshot is that the shape of the British state, as Labour intends it, is now decided until the eve of the next election.There are further crossroads still to come, some of them major, as the years covered by the review unroll. Taxes are likely to rise, probably as soon as the autumn budget, to pay for Reeves’s big ticket boosts on Wednesday for defence, health and housing. Council tax could rise too, with possibly dramatic results. The review’s emphasis on capital spending means current spending could be squeezed again, perhaps heralding pay...

Economics

3 w. ago Voices: Rachel Reeves sounded like she was fighting for her political life

Delivering her spending review, the chancellor even made her theatrical opposite number look convincing – she needs to rediscover her firebrand energy and win Labour MPs back onside, says John Rentoul

Politics