44 h. ago Eradicating child poverty ‘more challenging’ after spring statement – Swinney

The First Minister was speaking after figures showed Scotland’s interim child poverty targets were missed.

Politics

47 h. ago Voices: Independent readers react to Rachel Reeves’ spring statement – from ‘out of touch’ to ‘genuine poverty’

The chancellor’s spring statement sparked fierce criticism from readers, who accused her of reviving austerity by targeting the poor while failing to prioritise improving living standards, tax reform, and sustainable economic growth

Politics

50 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

51 h. ago Spring statement latest: Reeves rejects warning that welfare reforms could push 250,000 into poverty

Chancellor faces speculation she will be forced to find more money to balance the books

Events

67 h. ago Spring Statement branded 'new low in the fight against poverty' as Rachel Reeves announces further welfare cuts

Rachel Reeves delivered her spring statement today - announcing further welfare cuts labelled as 'deeply concerning' by disability charities who warn the changes will 'push more disabled people into poverty'

Economics

68 h. 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 Reeves warned welfare cuts will ‘push disabled into poverty’ ahead of spring statement

A disability advocate has warned that planned welfare cuts will push disabled people into poverty ahead of today’s spring statement.

Events

2 w. ago Charities issue stark warning to Chancellor on potential PIP cuts

The cuts could push 700,000 disabled households into poverty, say the charities

Events

3 w. ago Reeves warned there is 'not a hope in hell' work coaches plan will slash £5bn from welfare and stave off fresh tax hikes as ministers panic over calls for cuts

Rachel Reeves is facing a battle to avoid the need for tax rises at the Spring Statement later this month, after stalling growth and rising debt interest costs laid waste to her plans.

Economics