51 m. ago UK pushes back on Trump’s claim Britain is ‘happy’ with 10% tariff

Country seeks improved trade deal with US after rate applied to British imports

Politics

6 h. ago Starmer to hold talks with other global leaders to discuss response to Trump tariffs, says No 10 – UK politics live

UK prime minister to speak to international leaders this weekend to ‘maintain stability and strengthen our partnerships abroad’Trump claims Starmer ‘very happy’ about tariffsDowning Street has refused to confirm President Trump’s claim that Keir Starmer was “very happy” about the treatment the UK is getting under the new US global tariff regime. (See 9.32am.) Asked about the president’s words at the morning lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson said that the government had already set out its position yesterday and that it was “disappointed” by the US tariff policy.Livia Tossici-Bolt has been sentenced at Poole magistrates’ court to a conditional discharge for two years for two charges of breaching a “buffer zone” outside an abortion clinic in Bournemouth, PA Media reports. See 11.22am. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago David Lammy says he regrets Trump has embraced protectionism, something not seen in US ‘for nearly a century’ – UK politics live

David Lammy, foreign secretary, says UK is ‘a nation that believes in open trade’ and says government is negotiating with US over economic agreementAn anti-abortion campaigner at the centre of a free speech controversy involving the US government has been found guilty of breaching a “buffer zone” outside a Bournemouth abortion clinic, PA Media reports. PA says:Livia Tossici-Bolt was convicted at Poole magistrates’ court of two charges of breaching the Public Spaces Protection Order on two days in March 2023.The case involved the 64-year-old from Bournemouth holding a sign saying “Here to talk, if you want”.But I think our approach should be to slightly stand back and think, what does Britain want, and can it get from the rest of the world, and what can we contribute?And in that regard, it’s important to realise that the rest of the G7, except the US, collectively are the same size as the United States. And I would have thought a very sensible thing to be doing is having a serious co...

Politics

9 h. ago David Lammy says Trump has taken US economic policy back 100 years with ‘return to protectionism’ – UK politics live

David Lammy, foreign secretary, says UK is ‘a nation that believes in open trade’ and says government is negotiating with US over economic agreementThe official plan to increase access to NHS dental services in England has been a “complete failure”, and some of the government’s initiatives have worsened the crisis, a damning report warns, Andrew Gregory reports.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, is at the Nato HQ in Brussels this morning, where Nato foreign ministers are meeting. Speaking to the media, he said President Trump was taking US economic policy back almost a century by embracing protectionism. He said:The United Kingdom, like France, is a great maritime nation.We are a nation that believes in open trade, and I regret the return to protectionism in the United States, something that we’ve not seen for nearly a century. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Minister hits back at Trump claim UK is ‘very happy’ with tariffs

Government aiming for better trade deal with US after 10% rate applied to Britain

Politics

15 h. ago Not that Norfolk! Mislabelled shipments led to Trump tariffs on uninhabited islands and remote outposts with no US trade

Exclusive: Aquarium systems, Timberland boots and recycling plant parts were mislabelled as coming from remote Norfolk Island or Heard and McDonald islandsTariffs send US markets tumbling to worst day since Covid crashTrade tariffs imposed on tiny Australian territories that are either uninhabited or claim to have no trading relationship with the US appear to have been calculated based on erroneous trade data.The data relates, at least in part, to shipments mislabelled as coming from remote Norfolk Island, or Heard Island and McDonald Islands, instead of their correct countries of origin, the Guardian can reveal. Among the erroneously-labelled shipments over the past five years from the island territories are shipments of aquarium systems, Timberland boots, wine and parts for a recycling plant. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago SNP demand for Rachel Reeves to tax the rich to stop further Scotland spending cuts

The Scottish Government has called for a wealth tax to be introduced to protect public services.

Economics

67 h. ago Starmer and Reeves face grilling as Trump prepares ‘liberation day’ tariffs

Economists have warned US tariffs could wipe out the Chancellor’s ‘headroom’ against her debt rules, requiring more cuts or tax rises.

Politics

3 d. ago HMRC warning over scheme where people pay ‘more tax than they tried to avoid’

It claims to cut your tax bill by disguising your income, but help is available for those that want out

Events

4 d. ago Peter Navarro faces bipartisan wrath over ‘exceptionally stupid’ claim that ‘tariffs are tax cuts’

‘They think you are stupid,’ Pradeep J. Shanker, a contributor for the conservative National Review magazine, said about Navarro’s claim

Economics

8 d. ago White House pulls Elise Stefanik nomination as UN Ambassador so she can stay in the House to pass tax cuts and spending package

The House GOP’s slim majority could be harmed by Stefanik decamping for a cabinet post

Politics

8 d. ago UK politics live: Rachel Reeves may raise taxes ‘even further’ in autumn budget, IFS warns

Ms Reeves has denied there would be further tax rises or spending cuts at the Budget in the autumn but stopped short of ruling them out entirely

Events

8 d. ago Trade Secretary refuses to rule out cutting digital tax as US tariffs loom

The Liberal Democrats have urged the Government not to cut or scrap the digital services tax to ‘appease’ Donald Trump.

Economics

8 d. ago Wealthy and pensioners at risk of new tax raid in autumn Budget, experts warn

Labour chancellor has stopped short of ruling out further tax rises or spending cuts at the Budget

Events

8 d. ago Reeves ‘absolutely certain’ welfare cuts will not push people into poverty

The Chancellor denied there will be further tax rises or spending cuts at the autumn budget in order to balance the books.

Politics

8 d. ago Rachel Reeves defends benefit cuts and denies further tax rises likely in autumn – UK politics live

Chancellor confirmed welfare cuts of £4.8bn in spring statement, but insisted the priority was to restore stability to the public finances Nick Robinson is interviewing Rachel Reeves on the Today programme now.Q: You promised just one budget a year, but yesterday you had to announce drastic cuts. What’s gone wrong?We’re not at the moment at a position where we want to do anything to escalate these trade wars.Trade wars are no good for anyone. It will end up with higher prices for consumers, pushing up inflation after we’ve worked so hard to get a grip of inflation, and at the same time will make it harder for British companies to export. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Further tax hikes likely in autumn despite spending cuts, say economists

It came as the Government’s official forecaster cautioned that there was a ‘significant risk’ around meeting fiscal rules.

Economics

9 d. ago Spring statement 2025 summary: Key takeaways from benefit cuts to tax crackdowns

As the chancellor was forced to deliver a brutal spring statement due to the flatlining economy, The Independent looks at what cuts Rachel Reeves rolled out

Politics

9 d. ago Spring Statement 2025: More benefits cuts and crackdown on tax avoiders announced as growth forecast halved

Rachel Reeves will slash Britain’s welfare bill by another £500million

Politics

9 d. ago So much for growth, growth, growth! Rachel Reeves admits forecast for economy HALVED with inflation higher

Chancellor Rachel Reeves stressed the grim realities facing the country as she delivered her Spring Statement to the Commons, arguing the 'world has changed'.

Economics