2 h. ago Jeremy Corbyn confirms talks about forming new party with Zarah Sultana

Corbyn says ‘discussions are ongoing’ after MP’s surprise announcement, and is understood to be reluctant to take title of party leaderUK politics live – latest updatesJeremy Corbyn has confirmed he is in discussions about creating a new leftwing political party, hours after the MP Zarah Sultana announced she was quitting Labour to co-lead the project.Sultana, the MP for Coventry South who had the Labour whip suspended last year for voting against the government over the two-child limit on benefits, said on Thursday night she was quitting Labour and would “co-lead the founding of a new party” with Corbyn. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Jeremy Corbyn says ‘discussions are ongoing’ after Zarah Sultana claimed she would ‘co

Sultana announced on Thursday she was quitting Labour to join Jeremy Corbyn’s Independent AllianceMy colleague Lauren Almeida, who is running the Guardian’s business live blog, has shared the following:Rachel Reeves has not given herself enough fiscal headroom to manage public finances, Charlie Bean, the former deputy of the Bank of England has said, and has to “neurotically fine tune taxes”.About £10bn – that’s a very small number in the context of overall public spending. Government spending is about one and a quarter trillion so £10bn is a small number and it is a small number in the context of typical forecasting errors.You can’t forecast the future perfectly both because you can’t forecast the economy and you can’t forecast all the elements of public finances . The forecasts are imprecise and there is no way you can avoid that. That is a fact of life.In light of reports of atrocities committed by the Israeli government in Gaza and reports of the UK’s collaboration with Israeli ...

Politics

4 h. ago Home secretary rejects Zarah Sultana’s claim Labour failing to improve lives – UK politics live

Sultana announced on Thursday she was quitting Labour to join Jeremy Corbyn’s Independent AllianceMy colleague Lauren Almeida, who is running the Guardian’s business live blog, has shared the following:Rachel Reeves has not given herself enough fiscal headroom to manage public finances, Charlie Bean, the former deputy of the Bank of England has said, and has to “neurotically fine tune taxes”.About £10bn – that’s a very small number in the context of overall public spending. Government spending is about one and a quarter trillion so £10bn is a small number and it is a small number in the context of typical forecasting errors.You can’t forecast the future perfectly both because you can’t forecast the economy and you can’t forecast all the elements of public finances . The forecasts are imprecise and there is no way you can avoid that. That is a fact of life.In light of reports of atrocities committed by the Israeli government in Gaza and reports of the UK’s collaboration with Israeli ...

Society

27 h. ago Rachel Reeves says she is ‘cracking on with the job’ after Commons tears

Chancellor unexpectedly joins NHS plan launch and tells media her upset was caused by a personal issueAnalysis: The challenge of balancing backbenchers and bond marketsUK politics live – latest updatesRachel Reeves has said she is “cracking on with the job” of chancellor, after a very public show of unity from Keir Starmer after her visible distress in the Commons.In her first comments since her tearful appearance at Wednesday’s prime minister’s questions, Reeves said she had been upset about a personal matter, and that the only real difference to someone else having a bad day at work was that she then had to be seen on television. Continue reading...

Politics

27 h. ago ‘Clearly I was upset,’ says Reeves as she responds to questions about tears at PMQs – UK politics live

Chancellor says tears due to ‘a personal issue’ but it was her job to be at PMQs supporting Keir StarmerStreeting says he has to go to the Commons to make a statement to MPs.But first he introduces Rachel Reeves, saying that she has put an extra £29bn into the NHS.It is thanks to her leadership that we’ve seen interest rates in our country fall four times. It’s thanks to her leadership that we see wages finally rising faster than the cost of living. And it’s thanks to her leadership we have the fastest growing economy in the G7.If Australia can effectively serve communities living in the remote outback, we can meet the needs of people living in rural England.If community health teams can go door to door to prevent ill health in Brazil, we can do the same in Bradford. Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago UK politics live: Rachel Reeves says she was ‘clearly upset’ but it was her job to support government at PMQs

Reeves rejected suggestions that her tears at PMQs were related to a conversation with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle

Politics

28 h. ago Starmer defends Reeves but refuses to rule out tax rises as he announces 10

PM says only possible to transform the NHS due to decisions taken by chancellor, and denies the pressure is too much for herStreeting says he has to go to the Commons to make a statement to MPs.But first he introduces Rachel Reeves, saying that she has put an extra £29bn into the NHS.It is thanks to her leadership that we’ve seen interest rates in our country fall four times. It’s thanks to her leadership that we see wages finally rising faster than the cost of living. And it’s thanks to her leadership we have the fastest growing economy in the G7.If Australia can effectively serve communities living in the remote outback, we can meet the needs of people living in rural England.If community health teams can go door to door to prevent ill health in Brazil, we can do the same in Bradford. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago UK politics live: Rachel Reeves breaks cover after crying in Commons during PMQs

Starmer cheered Reeves on her way to the podium to speak about the NHS 10-year-plan

Politics

31 h. ago PM shoulders blame for welfare fiasco and says No 10 ‘didn’t get process right’

Keir Starmer says Downing Street should have engaged more with Labour MPs and repeats support for Rachel ReevesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has admitted No 10 “didn’t get the process right” in handling the government’s controversial welfare bill and says he shoulders the blame.Looking to repair some of the damage done by Labour’s 11th hour climbdown on the central plank of its welfare changes, Starmer said the government would reflect on its mistakes. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Trump’s big beautiful bill passes step in House, paving way for legislation

Key rule finally approved at 4am in Washington DC after lawmakers’ objected to provisions and costUS politics – live updatesDonald Trump’s signature tax-and-spending bill has passed a procedural step in the US House of Representatives, paving the way for the possible passage of the legislation later in the day.The House speaker, Mike Johnson, is determined to pass the bill as soon as possible, but had been frustrated by lawmakers – Democrats but also a handful of Republicans – who object to its provisions and overall cost. Overnight, they had blocked the House from approving a rule, which was necessary to begin debate on the measure and set the stage for its passage. Continue reading...

Politics

32 h. ago Keir Starmer LIVE: PM to give major speech after Rachel Reeves seen crying

Keir Starmer has admitted that the last few days have been tough after he was forced to tear up welfare reforms and Chancellor Rachel Reeves was seen crying in the Commons at PMQs

Politics

35 h. ago House vote on Trump’s big bill hangs in balance as Johnson vows to ‘get it over the line’

Speaker struggles to muster enough Republican votes as lawmakers object to provisions and costUS politics – live updatesDonald Trump’s signature tax-and-spending bill is hanging in the balance as Republicans struggle to muster sufficient votes in the US House of Representatives.House speaker Mike Johnson is determined to pass the bill as soon as possible, but has been frustrated by lawmakers who object to its provisions and overall cost. They have blocked House Republicans from approving a rule, which is necessary to begin debate on the measure and set the stage for its passage. Continue reading...

Politics

38 h. ago House voting on rule to pave the way to final debate on Trump’s tax

Procedural vote would open final debate but measure has already been voted against by enough Republicans to have it failWhat’s in Trump’s major tax bill?Republican voters on Trump legislation: ‘This bill is a no-brainer!’Donald Trump on Tuesday toured “Alligator Alcatraz”, a controversial new migrant detention jail in the remote Florida Everglades, and celebrated the harsh conditions that people sent there would experience.The president was chaperoned by Florida’s hard-right governor, Ron DeSantis, who hailed the tented camp on mosquito-infested land 50 miles west of Miami as an example for other states that supported Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago House at standstill as Republican leaders continue to try to rally holdouts, delaying rule vote – US politics live

Democrats criticize tax-and-spending bill as House Republicans scramble to get legislation passed by Trump-imposed deadlineWhat’s in Trump’s major tax bill?Donald Trump on Tuesday toured “Alligator Alcatraz”, a controversial new migrant detention jail in the remote Florida Everglades, and celebrated the harsh conditions that people sent there would experience.The president was chaperoned by Florida’s hard-right governor, Ron DeSantis, who hailed the tented camp on mosquito-infested land 50 miles west of Miami as an example for other states that supported Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago Mike Johnson claims ‘progress’ on Trump spending bill but unclear if Republicans have votes to pass it – live

Democrats criticize tax and spending bill as House Republicans scramble to get legislation passed by Trump-imposed deadlineWhat’s in Trump’s major tax bill?Donald Trump on Tuesday toured “Alligator Alcatraz”, a controversial new migrant detention jail in the remote Florida Everglades, and celebrated the harsh conditions that people sent there would experience.The president was chaperoned by Florida’s hard-right governor, Ron DeSantis, who hailed the tented camp on mosquito-infested land 50 miles west of Miami as an example for other states that supported Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Continue reading...

Politics

45 h. ago House holds preliminary vote as Republican hardliners demand big changes to Trump bill – US politics live

Democrats criticize tax and spending bill as Republican holdouts remain opposed while Trump-imposed deadline loomsWhat’s in Trump’s major tax bill?Donald Trump on Tuesday toured “Alligator Alcatraz”, a controversial new migrant detention jail in the remote Florida Everglades, and celebrated the harsh conditions that people sent there would experience.The president was chaperoned by Florida’s hard-right governor, Ron DeSantis, who hailed the tented camp on mosquito-infested land 50 miles west of Miami as an example for other states that supported Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago House Republican hardliners demand big changes to Trump bill as Democrats urge holdouts to vote no on spending package – live

Most vocal critics of president’s tax and spending bill remain opposed as Trump-imposed deadline loomsWhat’s in Trump’s major tax bill?Donald Trump on Tuesday toured “Alligator Alcatraz”, a controversial new migrant detention jail in the remote Florida Everglades, and celebrated the harsh conditions that people sent there would experience.The president was chaperoned by Florida’s hard-right governor, Ron DeSantis, who hailed the tented camp on mosquito-infested land 50 miles west of Miami as an example for other states that supported Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Trump and House Republican leaders scramble to rally holdouts ahead of critical vote on tax and spending bill – live

Speaker Mike Johnson meets Republicans opposed to bill sent back to the House by the Senate as Trump-imposed deadline loomsWhat’s in Trump’s major tax bill?Donald Trump on Tuesday toured “Alligator Alcatraz”, a controversial new migrant detention jail in the remote Florida Everglades, and celebrated the harsh conditions that people sent there would experience.The president was chaperoned by Florida’s hard-right governor, Ron DeSantis, who hailed the tented camp on mosquito-infested land 50 miles west of Miami as an example for other states that supported Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Continue reading...

Politics

48 h. ago House in procedural vote as Democrats attempt to derail Trump’s tax

Democrats lack the votes for the measure to work, but with weather affecting attendance it will give Congress an accurate account of who is back in WashingtonWhat’s in Trump’s major tax bill?Donald Trump on Tuesday toured “Alligator Alcatraz”, a controversial new migrant detention jail in the remote Florida Everglades, and celebrated the harsh conditions that people sent there would experience.The president was chaperoned by Florida’s hard-right governor, Ron DeSantis, who hailed the tented camp on mosquito-infested land 50 miles west of Miami as an example for other states that supported Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago Former January 6 defendant now advising justice department’s ‘weaponization working group’

Jared L Wise, who allegedly called for police to be killed at US Capitol, is now advising on the ‘weaponization’ of federal agenciesUS politics live – latest updatesA former FBI agent who allegedly shouted “kill ’em!” at law enforcement during the January 6 insurrection is now advising a “weaponization working group” in the Trump justice department, a sign of the elevated role rioters are playing since they were granted clemency by the president.Jared L Wise has been named an adviser or counselor to Ed Martin, the advocate for January 6ers who was previously acting as US attorney for Washington DC and is now leading the weaponization working group, the New York Times and ABC News reported on Tuesday. The contours of Wise’s role are not clear. Continue reading...

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