4 h. ago Now Labour is facing a summer of discontent: Nurses, teachers and council staff issue strike threats as Tories say Rachel Reeves is soft on unions

The Chancellor put the Government on a collision course with unions by warning that any inflation-busting rises would have to be funded by cuts to services.

Events

4 h. ago Reeves warned employment rights law has already led to hiring freeze and loss of business confidence

The chancellor has found herself under siege as two surveys of businesses reveal a loss of confidence

Events

9 h. ago Sugar tax to be extended to milkshakes and dairy substitute drinks

The Treasury confirmed plans to press ahead with the changes on Monday.

Politics

15 h. ago No10 hints at more spending cuts to fund bigger splurge on public sector pay

Pay review bodies have recommended 4 per cent for teachers and 3 per cent for NHS workers - significantly more than the 2.8 per cent the government has proposed.

Economics

19 h. ago Tax hike fears mount as Rachel Reeves faces calls to splurge even MORE on public sector pay

Pay review bodies have recommended 4 per cent for teachers and 3 per cent for NHS workers - significantly more than the 2.8 per cent the government has proposed.

Economics

19 h. ago Rachel Reeves told how much millions of NHS staff and teachers' pay should increase by

Chancellor Rachel Reeves last year proposed a pay hike of 2.8% for millions of public sector workers - leading one union to describe the offer as an 'insult'

Economics

42 h. ago I want our young people to be able to work in Europe, says Rachel Reeves

Chancellor’s remarks, made ahead of the EU-UK summit next month, signal a softening of the government’s position on a youth mobility scheme

Politics

46 h. ago Kevin McCloud: ‘I never get enraged, though inside I might be seething’

As he gears up for the annual Grand Designs Live event, the Channel 4 stalwart speaks to Adam White about Margaret Thatcher, Rachel Reeves and Britain’s ‘shameful and appalling’ housing standards, his eagerness to keep his private life private, and how he wishes people didn’t fancy him

Politics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves says EU more important to Britain in 'gaffe' that could harm her chances of securing a US trade deal to avoid Trump's punishing tariffs

Rachel Reeves has been criticised for saying trade with the EU is more important than with the US just ahead of meeting American counterpart Scott Bessent in a bid to secure a trade deal.

Economics

3 d. ago Watch: Rachel Reeves gives speech on UK economy at International Monetary Fund in Washington DC

Watch again as chancellor Rachel Reeves gave a speech on the UK economy at the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC on Wednesday (23 April).

Economics

3 d. ago Reform UK on course to win in two mayoral contests – UK politics live

Polling predicts victory for party in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull/East Yorkshire with the Greens possibly taking West of EnglandThere are six mayoral elections next week. Two of them are for single-authority mayors (Doncaster and North Tyneside), but the others are for combined-authority mayors (or regional mayors – like metro mayors, but not just covering city regions). Today YouGov has released polling covering all four of these contests and it suggests Reform UK is on course to win two of them easily. And the Green party is narrowly ahead in a third, the poll suggests.Here are the polling figures.In theory the Tories should be winning in Lincolnshire as they hold most of the parliamentary seats in the area and have dominated local politics forever. But it’s also the most Reform-friendly part of the country. It contains Richard Tice’s constituency and numerous seats in which they came second. Plus their candidate is a former Tory MP – Andrea Jenkyns, famous for her Boris Johnson...

Politics

3 d. ago Starmer faces Labour revolt over plan to raid bank accounts of benefit claimants

Welfare fraud bill would allow funds to be taken from bank accounts and driving licences to be cancelledShould benefit claimants risk having their bank accounts spied upon and driving licences revoked? I don’t think soKeir Starmer is facing a rebellion over his plan to use direct deductions from people’s bank accounts and the cancellation of driving licences as part of a government crackdown on welfare fraud and over-claiming.In an attempt to claw back the annual £9.7bn in benefit overpayments made by the Department for Work and Pensions due to fraud or error, the government has adopted Conservative plans for debt recovery. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves says EU trade 'reset' is MORE important than deal with US to dodge Trump's tariffs

Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested the government could prioritise ties with Brussels ahead of sitting down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Economics

3 d. ago Shoe shop that survived being bombed by the Nazis is killed off by Rachel Reeves' 'absolute stinker' budget

Bosses at AG Meek said the store in Cardiff had been defeated by rising wage costs after being loved by generations of families who visited the shop which opened in 1913.

Events

3 d. ago Reeves hints at priority as she says ‘trading relationship with Europe arguably more important’ than US – UK politics live

Chancellor said she understood the focus on possible deal with US, but added the EU remained ‘our nearest neighbours and trading partners’Water company bosses face up to two years in prison if they cover up illegal sewage spills under new laws coming into force, PA Media reports. PA says:The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said no prison sentences have been handed to water company executives since privatisation despite widespread illegal sewage discharges, and the tougher penalties were essential because some firms have obstructed investigations.Environment secretary Steve Reed said: “Bosses must face consequences if they commit crimes. There must be accountability. From today, there will be no more hiding places.”I’m now pretty optimistic that we are moving in a good direction.In the end, I think everybody understands that this is about our security in Europe. It requires cooperation between democracies, friends, allies, countries with the same values.The...

Politics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves will meet US counterpart TODAY as figures show a QUARTER of UK car exports go to America

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will sit down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington, where they have been both attending an IMF summit.

Politics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves suggests UK trade with EU more important than US ahead of crunch talks in Washington

Chancellor is set to meet with her US counterpart Scott Bessent on Friday

Politics

3 d. ago Reeves reveals plan to rip up banking regulations brought in after financial crash

Chancellor indicates she wants to hand market freedoms it had almost two decades ago, before major banks were bailed out by government

Events

4 d. ago Reeves to hold trade talks with US counterpart in Washington

Rachel Reeves will conclude her trip to the IMF’s spring meetings with talks on a potential US-UK trade deal.

Politics

4 d. ago Rachel Reeves to say world leaders should 'reduce barriers to trade' ahead of meeting with US counterpart over Donald Trump's tariffs and a UK deal

The Chancellor will tell the International Monetary Fund 's spring meeting in Washington that the 'new era of global trade' requires a new system that 'provides security for working people'.

Politics