27 h. ago Keir Starmer says people on benefits are 'slightly fearful' of looking for work as he defends cuts to disability cash amid Labour rebellion

The Prime Minister made the remark as he highlighted how the government would help the unemployed back into work.

Economics

53 h. ago Labour MPs threaten 'the mother of all rebellions' over benefit cuts with 'dozens' ready to revolt as child poverty hits record level

More than 30 backbenchers are said to be ready to vote against plans to make it harder to claim incapacity benefits and personal independence payments (Pip).

Events

53 h. ago ‘Good chance’ Reeves will have to raise taxes in autumn budget, thinktank says – UK politics live

Institute for Fiscal Studies also warns Reeves over her focus on sticking with fiscal rules regardless of real world eventsIn an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said she would not accept free tickets for concerts again in the future.Asked about the controversy about her decision to accept two corporate tickets for a Sabrina Carpenter concert at the O2, she repeated the line that she used at her press conference yesterday – that a family member wanted to attend the concert (presumably one of her children, but she did not say that), and that she accepted tickets for a corporate box because security concerns meant it was not deemed safe for her to get normal tickets for the auditorium.I’m just saying I wouldn’t do it again. I felt I was doing the right thing. But I do understand perceptions.I am absolutely certain that our reforms, instead of pushing people into poverty, are going to get people into work.And we know that if you move from welfar...

Politics

54 h. ago Labour MPs threaten 'the mother of all rebellions' over benefit cuts with 'dozens' ready to revolt over Reeves' cut to cash for the disabled

More than 30 backbenchers are said to be ready to vote against plans to make it harder to claim incapacity benefits and personal independence payments (Pip).

Events

57 h. ago Reeves denies welfare cuts will increase poverty amid warning poorest set to be £500 a year worse off – UK politics live

The Resolution Foundation says the UK’s poorest will be £500 a year worse off by the end of the parliament due to the spring statementIn an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said she would not accept free tickets for concerts again in the future.Asked about the controversy about her decision to accept two corporate tickets for a Sabrina Carpenter concert at the O2, she repeated the line that she used at her press conference yesterday – that a family member wanted to attend the concert (presumably one of her children, but she did not say that), and that she accepted tickets for a corporate box because security concerns meant it was not deemed safe for her to get normal tickets for the auditorium.I’m just saying I wouldn’t do it again. I felt I was doing the right thing. But I do understand perceptions.I am absolutely certain that our reforms, instead of pushing people into poverty, are going to get people into work.And we know that if you move ...

Events

57 h. 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

3 d. ago 'Rachel Reeves the benefit snatcher can expect no mercy from Labour rebels'

'Deciding to balance the books on the backs of the poor and vulnerable is a bad political choice that will boomerang on Reeves and the Labour Government,' writes The Mirror's Kevin Maguire

Politics

3 d. ago KEVIN MAGUIRE: 'Rachel Reeves the benefit snatcher can expect no mercy from Labour rebels'

'Deciding to balance the books on the backs of the poor and vulnerable is a bad political choice that will boomerang on Reeves and the Labour Government,' writes The Mirror's Kevin Maguire

Politics

3 d. ago Spring Statement calculator shows if you'll be better or worse off after Rachel Reeves statement

Use our calculator below to see how better or worse off after the Spring Statement after Rachel Reeves announced public spending cuts and major cuts to benefit payments

Politics

3 d. ago 250,000 more people will face relative poverty after Rachel Reeves’ benefits cuts, DWP says – spring statement live

Department for work and pensions says thousands, including children, will be hit by chancellor’s reforms, as OBR forecasts UK growth to halve in 2025Spring statement 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers...

Politics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves' benefit cuts will plunge 250,000 people into poverty, warns DWP

An impact assessment published by the UK Government showed that an additional 250,000 people will be in relative poverty due to the cuts.

Events

3 d. ago Reeves announces welfare changes, increased defence spending and new growth forecasts – spring statement live

Chancellor OBR forecasts for UK growth halved in 2025 but up in the remaining years of this parliamentSpring statement 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers was Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party...

Economics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves confirms further benefit cuts in Spring Statement

The Chancellor confirmed the measures in the House of Commons on Thursday afternoon.

Politics

3 d. ago Keir Starmer faces PMQs before Rachel Reeves delivers spring statement – UK politics live

Chancellor is expected to announce further welfare cuts when she outlines departmental spending plansRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers was Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party, which is in favour of a wealth tax.Across th...

Politics

3 d. ago Spring Statement 2025 LIVE as Rachel Reeves to announce further DWP benefit cuts

The budget watchdog has warned that cuts to benefits announced last week will not save as much money as minister had hoped

Politics

3 d. ago Spring Statement LIVE as more benefit cuts to be announced by Rachel Reeves

The Chancellor will stand up in the House of Commons this afternoon to give an update to the Government's spending plans

Politics

3 d. ago More benefit cuts on the way in Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement today

The Chancellor will slash welfare again after the budget watchdog said last week's reforms will save £1.6 billion less than expected

Politics

3 d. ago Further welfare cuts expected as Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver spring statement – UK politics live

Keir Starmer will face Kemi Badenoch at PMQs before the chancellor delivers her spring statement John Healey, the defence secretary, has been doing an interview round this morning because overnight the Treasury briefed journalists that Rachel Reeves will announce an extra £2.2bn in defence spending from April in the spring statement. (Presumably that was the story the Treasury press office were hoping would be leading the news bulletins this morning, not the new benefit cuts).In its news release, the Treasury said:The chancellor will announce a further £2.2bn funding increase for defence from April, as she warns that Britain has to “move quickly in a changing world”.The funding will be invested in advanced technologies so that Britain’s armed forces have the tools they need to compete and win in modern warfare. This includes guaranteeing the investment to fit Royal Navy ships with Directed Energy Weapons by 2027. These weapons can hit a £1 coin from 1km away and take down drones at ...

Politics

4 d. ago Benefits reform and jobs cuts: The political headaches for Labour in Reeves’ spring statement

Labour chancellor set to squeeze Whitehall budgets by up to 7 per cent

Politics

1 week ago Starmer must drop ‘cruel’ Pip proposals or face ‘mother of all rebellions’, Labour MP says – UK politics live

Richard Burgon says PM’s failure to defend new Pip eligibility rules at PMQs shows why ‘cruel’ plans should be droppedLast night, to back up its analysis of the disability cuts, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published two charts illustrating aspects of the changes.This one shows how the £5bn cuts announced yesterday compare in scale to previous benefit cuts, listed here in order of how big they were, in current prices. Continue reading...

Politics