75 m. ago Keir Starmer: I'm a 'hard enough b*****d' to lead the country... despite collapsing under pressure to own MPs over benefit cuts

In a bizarre aside, the Prime Minister pushed back against suggestions that recent U-turns have wrecked his political authority.

Events

2 h. ago 'Why would I get a job? I get your monthly wage in a week!' As Starmer's bid to cut disability benefits is sunk by Labour MPs, social media tutorials show claimants how to milk the system

Mastering the red tape behind Britain's bloated benefits system can apparently also present extraordinarily lucrative business opportunities.

Politics

2 h. ago Reeves says welfare fallout ‘damaging’ and declines to rule out tax hikes

The Chancellor warned there would be ‘costs to what happened’ as she faced questions about how she would cover the shortfall left by concessions.

Economics

9 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

22 h. ago DWP benefits reform faces new challenge as Labour MPs back plan to widen eligibility

Labour backbencher Graeme Downie has proposed a welfare reform Bill amendment that would make the lives of sickness and disability benefit claimants simpler

Politics

35 h. ago Reeves 'could be forced into £40BILLION of extra tax hikes' by 'perfect storm' of stalling economy and Labour's benefits shambles

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is trying to move on after her outburst of emotion during PMQs yesterday.

Economics

36 h. ago Reeves 'could be forced into £40BILLION of extra tax hikes' by stalling economy and Labour's benefits shambles

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is trying to move on after her outburst of emotion during PMQs yesterday.

Economics

39 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

39 h. ago Currys' turnaround strategy pays off as group looks to automation and offshoring to beat Reeves' tax hikes

Currys is taking measures to mitigate tax hikes from Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget. The group posted higher annual profits and sales on Thursday.

Economics

40 h. ago Operation Save Rachel: Keir scrambles to shore up weeping Reeves and guarantees her job after her tears triggered market drop

Sir Keir said her tears had 'nothing to do with politics' or Labour's embarrassing U-turns on benefits - insisting she cried over something 'personal' without expanding further.

Politics

40 h. ago Keir Starmer insists Rachel Reeves 'will remain chancellor into the next election and for many years after'...as markets tumble and No10 frantically denies bust

Sir Keir said her tears had 'nothing to do with politics' or Labour's embarrassing U-turns on benefits - insisting she cried over something 'personal' without expanding further.

Politics

49 h. ago Business confidence remains weak after NI and wage cost hikes, says BCC

The British Chambers of Commerce urged the Government to rule out further tax hikes for firms later this year.

Economics

53 h. ago The Guardian view on Labour’s welfare rebellion: Starmer must learn from his mistakes | Editorial

A poorly devised cuts policy was mis-sold as reform and MPs were dismissed when they pointed out the problemA clash between the government and Labour MPs over disability benefits was foreseeable long before this week’s Commons rebellion. That doesn’t mean a crisis was inevitable. Compromise might have been reached before the 11th-hour climbdown that averted a defeat in parliament.The conflagration that burned a lot of Sir Keir Starmer’s authority was all the greater because trust had broken down. The twin causes were failure of political judgment in Downing Street and bad policy. The prime minister underestimated the potency of MPs’ objections to the withdrawal of personal independence payment (Pip) from disabled people, and overestimated the capacity of his whips to bully and cajole his party into accepting the changes.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to...

Politics

55 h. ago 'I'm under so much pressure': What Rachel Reeves said before mystery tears as markets tumble and No10 frantically denies Starmer bust

The Chancellor is said to have made the admission to Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle before taking her seat for an extraordinary session of Prime Minister's Questions.

Events

56 h. ago Rachel Reeves' mystery tears send markets tumbling as No10 frantically denies Starmer bust

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sitting next to Keir Starmer as he insisted the smoking ruin of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

Politics

56 h. ago Rachel Reeves 'had row with Starmer' minutes before bursting into tears in astonishing moment at PMQs... and now markets drop amid chaos fears

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sitting next to Keir Starmer as he insisted the smoking ruin of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

Events

58 h. ago Rachel Reeves in TEARS as Starmer refuses to guarantee she will stay in her job in astonishing  PMQs after PM's benefits humiliation

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sitting next to Keir Starmer as he insisted the smoking ruin of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

Politics

58 h. ago PMQs latest: Rachel Reeves cries in Commons after Starmer refuses to guarantee she will stay on as chancellor

Chancellor’s spokesperson says Reeves was crying over a ‘personal matter’ as Starmer’s press secretary confirms she has PM’s ‘full backing’

Politics

59 h. ago Reeves battles tears as Starmer declines to back her staying in post

The decision to scrap key parts of the welfare reform package has left the Chancellor facing the prospect of tax hikes to balance the books.

Events

59 h. ago Rachel Reeves WEEPS as Starmer refuses to guarantee she will stay in her job during brutal PMQs

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sitting next to Keir Starmer as he insisted the smoking ruing of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

Politics