5 d. ago Flagship Reform council proposes to raise tax almost 4% after pledging cuts

Kent County Council produced a draft budget for 2026-27 on Thursday evening, revealing a 3.99% council tax hike.

Politics

5 d. ago Economists warn SNP 'something will have to give' as capital projects set for axe over £1bn gap

Economists have warned the Scottish Government will have to set out cuts to capital projects when it publishes its draft Budget on Tuesday

Events

8 d. ago NI’s Finance Minister publishes draft budget despite ongoing impasse over plan

The DUP rejected John O’Dowd’s spending proposals as ‘deeply flawed’.

Politics

2 w. ago Japan’s cabinet approves record defence budget amid escalating China tensions

Japanese strike-back capabilities and coastal defences to be boosted while Beijing accuses Tokyo of fuelling a ‘space arms race’Japan’s cabinet has approved a record high defence budget as tensions with China continue to spiral, with Beijing this week accusing Tokyo of “fuelling a space arms race”.The draft defence budget for the next fiscal year – approved on Friday – is more than ¥9tn ($58bn) and 9.4% bigger than the previous budget, which will end in April. The increase comes in the fourth year of Japan’s five-year program to double its annual arms spending to 2% of GDP. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Manchester Arena plotter’s alleged prison attack sparks call for US

Report recommends adoption of US-style punishment and rewards for most dangerous inmatesA long-awaited report that examined how the Manchester Arena plotter was able to carry out an alleged violent attack on prison officers has recommended a new punishment and rewards system for the most dangerous inmates, similar to that used in a US Supermax jail.David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, is facing demands to publish the report, which looks into why Hashem Abedi, who was jailed for life for helping his brother carry out the 2017 bombing, was able to target staff at HMP Frankland with boiling oil and homemade weapons in a planned ambush. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago John Swinney urged to provide £100m baby boost in SNP Budget next month

EXCLUSIVE: An option tabled for consideration in the SNP Government's January draft Budget is a large rise in best start grants.

Economics