15 h. ago Unions pile pressure on Reeves to avoid cuts and impose wealth taxes

Exclusive: The TUC has ratcheted up pressure on the government to introduce wealth taxes amid a growing expectation that the chancellor will unveil a swathe of spending cuts next week

Economics

18 h. ago Pensions report cuts Reeves’ planned growth funds from £160bn to £11bn

Chancellor had anticipated surpluses from final salary schemes would boost investment in UK economyPlans to invest £160bn of surplus funds from final salary pension schemes to boost the UK economy over the next 10 years have been dealt a blow by a Whitehall assessment that found there was likely to be little more than £11bn available to spend.In a knock to Rachel Reeves’s growth agenda, a report by civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) found that the expected surpluses in occupational schemes would be used by businesses to offload their pension liabilities to insurance companies. Continue reading...

Economics

20 h. ago Warning UK’s housing crisis will deepen if Reeves makes further cuts in spending review

Exclusive: Building new social housing is facing a ‘cliff edge’ because of a lack of funds, experts say – as Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner battle over budget plans

Events

29 h. ago Gardeners issued urgent feed warning for fruit and vegetables during summer

Gardening experts have urged people to follow one simple rule to ensure a healthy growth on their plants during the summer months and ensure the best quality on their produce.

Events

64 h. ago Reeves hits back at spending review critics claiming ‘my choices are Labour choices’

Exclusive: As a cabinet civil war heats up over her spending review, Rachel Reeves has written for The Independent defending her motivations and choices as chancellor

Events

3 d. ago Reeves doubles down on pledge not to raise taxes as Britain faces cuts

The chancellor has insisted she can stick to manifesto spending pledges as experts question her grasp of the nation’s finances

Politics

3 d. ago How to get rid of ivy and keep it away for good, according to experts

Ivy is an evergreen climber that clings to walls, fences and trees, forming dense mats of growth and can block sunlight and smother plants

Politics

3 d. ago Voices: ‘Raising taxes is political suicide’: Readers tackle uncomfortable truth behind UK’s growth slump

Our community is sharply divided over how Rachel Reeves should fix the country’s finances. While some urged spending cuts over tax rises, others insisted ‘we really can’t afford to support the lifestyles of the mega wealthy’

Politics

3 d. ago Voices: I went to a DwP benefit cut consultation: Here’s what I found

Attendees were told how important their views were – but it speaks volumes that we were handed leaflets with the number of the Samaritans on it, writes James Moore

Politics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves begs Cabinet to cool war over spending cuts and talks up transport investment

Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged ministers will not get 'everything they want' in the spending review due next Wednesday.

Economics

4 d. ago Raise council tax, says OECD, as it gives Rachel Reeves a headache with cut to UK growth forecast

The OECD called for the Chancellor to target tax loopholes and even highlighted council tax re-evaluation as a potential way to raise revenue.

Politics

4 d. ago Reeves urged to raise taxes and cut public spending as UK growth to stall after Trump tariffs

Labour chancellor under pressure from the OECD ahead of upcoming spending review

Economics

5 d. ago Winter fuel cuts could be reversed as Starmer hints 'which pensioners are eligible'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a raft of cuts to the winter fuel payment and the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as part of a plan to address the nation's £22billion 'black hole'

Politics

9 d. ago Gardeners advised to 'remove' one thing from rhubarb plants for better growth

Rhubarb is a popular fruit to grow in the UK, but gardeners are being urged to check their plants regularly for one thing - and remove it as soon as possible

Politics

9 d. ago Will megafunds really put an extra £6,000 in the average pension?

Some experts are sceptical about the touted benefits to workers from the UK government’s proposed shake-upAmid all the jargon of the latest announcement on pensions, one number will have leapt out: the claim that the average worker will gain £6,000 in their retirement fund as a result.The figure comes from the government’s final report of its Pensions Investment Review published on Thursday. It lays out plans to shake up defined contribution pensions, the funds that invest workers’ regular payments in stocks, shares and other assets to grow the money. These provide workers with an income on retirement based on the value of their stake; the size of this income will depend on how much they have paid in and how well the investments have performed. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves is set to betray farmers AGAIN 'by cutting a massive £5billion lifeline'

In a fresh blow to the industry, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering slashing lifeline subsidies worth billions of pounds to farms in her spending review on June 11.

Economics

1 week ago IMF lifts UK growth forecast for 2025; markets welcome US delay to EU 50% tariffs – as it happened

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as IMF releases latest healthcheck on UK economyRachel Reeves should ease fiscal rules to prevent emergency spending cuts, IMF saysEU hopes for quick deal to resolve US trade war after Trump delays 50% tariffsToyota to move some GR Corolla production to UK from JapanOuch! Germany’s economy is on track for its worst performance in post-war history, a new report shows.The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) predicted this morning that Europe’s largest economy will contract by 0.3% this year, Reuters reports. That would be the third annual contraction in a row, although not as bad as the 0.5% fall in GDP which the DIHK predicted back in February.“A mood of cautious relief is spreading after the long weekend, amid hopes for more fruitful trade negotiations between the United States and its global partners. There are no post bank holiday blues for the London market, with the Footsie in striking distance of the record ...

Economics

1 week ago What is the Chelsea Chop? And how it’s vital for your plants’ growth

The chop also delays blooming, which can benefit the late-summer garden

Politics

1 week ago KFC announces £1.5billion expansion plans to open 500 more restaurants in the next decade as demand for fried chicken surges

KFC's plans form part of new growth ambitions as the chain looks to expand its reach across the nation and put money into its existing locations.

Economics

1 week ago IMF lifts UK growth forecast for 2025; markets welcome US delay to EU 50% tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as IMF releases latest healthcheck on UK economyRachel Reeves should ease fiscal rules to prevent emergency spending cuts, IMF saysEU hopes for quick deal to resolve US trade war after Trump delays 50% tariffsToyota to move some GR Corolla production to UK from JapanOuch! Germany’s economy is on track for its worst performance in post-war history, a new report shows.The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) predicted this morning that Europe’s largest economy will contract by 0.3% this year, Reuters reports. That would be the third annual contraction in a row, although not as bad as the 0.5% fall in GDP which the DIHK predicted back in February.“A mood of cautious relief is spreading after the long weekend, amid hopes for more fruitful trade negotiations between the United States and its global partners. There are no post bank holiday blues for the London market, with the Footsie in striking distance of the record ...

Economics