22 h. ago Poorest Brits to benefit most from Rachel Reeves's Spending Review

The poorest Brits will benefit most from Rachel Reeves’s public sector spending spree but tax rises look likely in the autumn, think tank the Resolution Foundation has said

Politics

25 h. ago Britain on track to become a ‘National Health State’, says thinktank

Resolution Foundation says half of all public spending will be allocated to the NHS and social care by the end of the decadeBusiness live – latest updatesBritain is on track to become a “National Health State” where half of all public spending is allocated to the NHS and social care by the end of the decade, according to a leading thinktank.Rachel Reeves used her spending review on Wednesday to prioritise billions of pounds for the NHS as she outlined Labour’s priorities up to the next general election, while squeezing funding for other areas. Continue reading...

Events

50 h. ago Spending Review winners and losers: Hospitals, schools and defence to benefit under Rachel Reeves plans

Major boosts for the NHS , schools, defence, local transport and nuclear power are expected to be unveiled by the Chancellor at lunchtime.

Politics

4 d. ago The Guardian view on child poverty: free school meals are a help, but not a panacea | Editorial

Giving lunch to more pupils is a good move – but poor nutrition points to deeper problems that ministers must faceIt was Ellen Wilkinson, education minister in the Attlee government, who announced in 1946 that free school dinners would be introduced, along with free school milk, at the same time as child benefit. No doubt Rachel Reeves, who has a picture of Wilkinson on the wall of her office, is aware of this – and also that the Treasury subsequently decided the policy was unaffordable. The meals were subsidised instead.Despite these initial charges, and later price rises, poorer children did gain, and keep, an entitlement to free school meals. The announcement last week that this is being extended in England to all those whose parents or carers claim universal credit – rather than restricted to families with incomes lower than £7,400 – should be welcomed by all objectors to child poverty. Being assured of a hot lunch in the middle of the school day makes pupils’ lives be...

Politics

8 d. ago Martin Lewis sends warning message to chancellor after DWP Winter Fuel Payment update

Rachel Reeves announced that changes to the eligibility criteria for the benefit will be revealed in the coming weeks

Events

9 d. ago Rachel Reeves reveals which UK areas will benefit from huge £15bn announcement

Projects across the North and Midlands will get part of a £15.6 billion cash injection

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves hints at winter fuel allowance shift saying she is 'listening' to mounting disquiet from Labour MPs

Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested she is considering the threshold at which the benefit is removed after the cut was seen as a factor in dire local election results.

Politics

3 w. ago Slot machine firms target UK’s poorest areas and channel funds to billionaires

Exclusive: Politicians including Andy Burnham call for councils to be given powers to stop new sites openingSlot machine companies are targeting Britain’s poorest neighbourhoods and channelling the proceeds to billionaire-owned overseas corporations and a Wall Street fund that uses an offshore lending structure, the Guardian can reveal.The number of slot machine shops has risen by 7% since 2022, as companies -friendly planning and licensing laws to flood Britain’s high streets with new “adult gaming centres” (AGCs), most of which are open 24 hours a day. Continue reading...

Economics