1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week ago Watch live: Rachel Reeves gives major speech on UK economy at International Monetary Fund in Washington DC

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

Society

1 week ago Rachel Reeves live: Economists fear more tax hikes in autumn Budget after UK borrowing soars

Rachel Reeves is preparing for crucial talks with her US counterpart as she pushes to secure a trade deal

Economics

1 week ago UK borrowing soars as business activity contracts at fastest rate for 2 years

Overshoot of £15bn puts pressure on Reeves to raise taxes as PMI figures indicate falling private sector confidence

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves live: ‘Collapse in confidence’ warning from UK businesses ahead of Trump trade talks

Activity across the UK’s private sector falls to more than two-year low amid Trump tariffs

Events

1 week ago UK government borrowing soars as private sector activity contracts at fastest rate for 2 years

Overshoot of £15bn in public sector borrowing puts pressure on Reeves to raise taxes as PMI figures indicate falling business confidence

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves US talks live: Pressure mounts on chancellor as UK borrowing soars ahead of Trump trade showdown

The chancellor is preparing for crucial Washington talks with Donald Trump's Treasury secretary

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves US talks live: Chancellor in Washington for major Trump trade deal talks

The chancellor is preparing for crucial Washington talks with Donald Trump's Treasury secretary

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves US talks live: Chancellor under pressure to secure Trump trade deal

The chancellor is preparing for crucial Washington talks with Donald Trump's Treasury secretary

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves US talks live: Chancellor under pressure to secure Trump trade deal amid tax hike fears

The chancellor is preparing for crucial Washington talks with Donald Trump's Treasury secretary

Economics

1 week ago Fallout from Donald Trump's tariffs to hit UK economy harder than Europe

The downgraded forecasts make it more likely that Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves will have to make further cuts or hike taxes in her autumn budget.

Politics

3 w. ago GDP jump offers Rachel Reeves some light as UK enters Trump tariff tunnel

Growth defied forecasts that chancellor had hobbled economy, but trade war casts long shadowUK economy far exceeds forecasts to grow 0.5%Business live – latest updatesEarlier this year Rachel Reeves was being written off for having jeopardised Britain’s economy. The chancellor’s tax-raising autumn budget had sapped business investment, spooked the financial markets and put the jobs market at risk.The latest official figures showing stronger-than-expected economic growth of 0.5% in February will therefore come as a boost for the embattled chancellor, in a sign that the economy was in better health than her critics claimed. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer vows not to loosen Labour's fiscal rules despite UK borrowing costs soaring to their highest level since 1998 amid Donald Trump's tariffs carnage

The yield on a 30-year gilt, or a UK government bond, hit 5.518 per cent this morning, up 16 basis points and surpassing a previous 27-year high of 5.472 per cent set in January.

Politics

3 w. ago Reeves faces crisis as Trump’s tariffs send cost of government borrowing soaring in blow to her Budget plans

The trade war escalated with China hitting back by imposing 84% levies on imports from the US

Politics