1 hour 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 hour ago Reeves suggests EU relationship is higher priority ahead of trade talks with US

The EU is the UK’s largest trading partner, with the US the second largest.

Politics

2 h. ago Rachel Reeves says EU trade 'reset' is MORE important than deal with US to dodge Trump's tariffs

Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested the government could prioritise ties with Brussels ahead of sitting down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Economics

3 h. ago Shoe shop that survived being bombed by the Nazis is killed off by Rachel Reeves' 'absolute stinker' budget

Bosses at AG Meek said the store in Cardiff had been defeated by rising wage costs after being loved by generations of families who visited the shop which opened in 1913.

Events

3 h. ago Apple ‘aims to source all US iPhones from India’, reducing reliance on China

Report suggests tech firm – swept up in Donald Trump’s trade war – will make change as soon as 2026Apple is reportedly planning to switch assembly of all iPhones for the US market to India as the company seeks to reduce its reliance on a Chinese manufacturing base amid Donald Trump’s trade war.The $3tn (£2.3tn) technology company aims to make the shift as soon as next year, the Financial Times reported. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. 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

4 h. ago Rachel Reeves will meet US counterpart TODAY as figures show a QUARTER of UK car exports go to America

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will sit down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington, where they have been both attending an IMF summit.

Politics

6 h. ago Rachel Reeves suggests UK trade with EU more important than US ahead of crunch talks in Washington

Chancellor is set to meet with her US counterpart Scott Bessent on Friday

Politics

7 h. ago Reeves reveals plan to rip up banking regulations brought in after financial crash

Chancellor indicates she wants to hand market freedoms it had almost two decades ago, before major banks were bailed out by government

Events

14 h. ago Reeves to hold trade talks with US counterpart in Washington

Rachel Reeves will conclude her trip to the IMF’s spring meetings with talks on a potential US-UK trade deal.

Politics

20 h. ago Rachel Reeves to say world leaders should 'reduce barriers to trade' ahead of meeting with US counterpart over Donald Trump's tariffs and a UK deal

The Chancellor will tell the International Monetary Fund 's spring meeting in Washington that the 'new era of global trade' requires a new system that 'provides security for working people'.

Politics

20 h. ago Reeves moves to appease Trump with new vision for global trade

As the UK scrambles to get a US trade deal, Rachel Reeves has made a speech calling for a new global trade system aimed at dealing with concerns raised by Donald Trump

Politics

20 h. ago Reeves to say global trade should provide ‘security for working people’

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is in Washington for the International Monetary Fund’s spring meeting of finance ministers from the G7 and G20.

Events

28 h. ago Group of 70 Labour MPs and peers demand 'youth free movement' deal with the EU as Rachel Reeves hints she backs scheme despite concerns it will fuel immigration

They made the call in a letter to Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister in charge of the Government's ongoing negotiations with Brussels.

Economics

36 h. ago Rachel Reeves: There's a deal to be done with Trump that may see tariffs cut on US goods

The Chancellor told a summit the White House is 'keen' to thrash out a trade arrangement. But she insisted Britain will not rush into any accord that is not in 'our national interest'.

Economics

40 h. ago Rachel Reeves in US for trade showdown talks in hopes of saving ailing economy

Rachel Reeves will meet with US counterpart Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the hopes of seeking the best deal possible for Britain amid crippling US trade tariffs

Economics

41 h. ago Rachel Reeves has been dealt a tough hand – she must hold her nerve

Editorial: The chancellor must resist the siren calls of higher borrowing or deeper public spending cuts and instead look at windfall taxes on big tech companies and banks

Economics

42 h. ago US ‘keen to do a deal’, says Rachel Reeves as she outlines red lines ahead of trade talks

Chancellor expected to meet US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent on Friday in an attempt to make progress on negotiations for a UK-US economic deal

Economics

43 h. ago Rachel Reeves says US trip about more than 'damage limitation' as she signals UK could lower import levies on American cars in bid for trade deal with Donald Trump

The Chancellor is in Washington for IMF meetings and talks with other G20 finance ministers to discuss the impact of the US president on global commerce.

Politics

44 h. ago US ‘keen to do a deal’, says Chancellor ahead of trade talks

Rachel Reeves has travelled to the US capital for the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings of G7 and G20 finance ministers.

Economics