3 d. ago Fears Rachel Reeves might have to return for MORE tax as OBR chief warns government's books are still vulnerable after Budget

Professor David Miles, who sits on the OBR's committee, said the £22billion of 'headroom' the Chancellor had left herself at the Budget was still not 'very large'.

Events

5 d. ago Britain's Budget betrayal: Sir Keir Starmer vows to curb handouts...just days after £16billion welfare spending boost

The Prime Minister said the Government would make attempt to 'reform' welfare, with the current system having 'trapped people in poverty' - days after boosting handouts by £16billion a year..

Economics

5 d. ago Heart doctor shares type of fizzy drink he will 'never drink again' for one reason

Fizzy drinks are already known for their lack of health benefits, but now one heart specialist revealed one drink that he will never be drinking again after it left him shocked

Science

6 d. ago Starmer signals fresh push on welfare reform in bid to move on from Budget row

The Prime Minister will make the case for a welfare system shake-up after the axing of the two-child cap in the Budget was welcomed by Labour MPs.

Economics

9 d. ago Starmer says budget did not break manifesto tax pledge and scrapping two

PM says: ‘We kept to our manifesto in terms of what we’ve promised. But I accept the challenge that we’ve asked everybody to contribute’Ask the Guardian your budget questionsShare your views on the new ‘mansion tax’Budget calculator: find out if you are better or worse offThe Conservative party is attacking the budget on the grounds that Rachel Reeves is putting up taxes supposedly to fund more spending on benefit claimants. Even though the rationale for this claim is questionable, the Tories were making it before the budget was announced, and Kemi Badenoch firmed it up last night, claiming it was a “Benefits Street budget”.On LBC this morning, asked if the budget meant “alarm clock Britain paying for Benefits Street”, Reeves said she did not accept that. She said 60% of the families that would benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit cap (the most expensive welfare announcement in the budget) were in work.I don’t think children should be punished by this pernicious policy ...

Economics

9 d. ago Reeves should have included more tax reform in budget to help growth, IFS thinktank says – UK politics live

Institute for Fiscal Studies director says chancellors continue to ‘shy away from meaningful tax reform that could move the dial’Ask the Guardian your budget questionsShare your views on the new ‘mansion tax’ Budget calculator: find out if you are better or worse offThe Conservative party is attacking the budget on the grounds that Rachel Reeves is putting up taxes supposedly to fund more spending on benefit claimants. Even though the rationale for this claim is questionable, the Tories were making it before the budget was announced, and Kemi Badenoch firmed it up last night, claiming it was a “Benefits Street budget”.On LBC this morning, asked if the budget meant “alarm clock Britain paying for Benefits Street”, Reeves said she did not accept that. She said 60% of the families that would benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit cap (the most expensive welfare announcement in the budget) were in work.I don’t think children should be punished by this pernicious policy any lo...

Politics

9 d. ago Reeves dismisses Tory claims of ‘Benefits Street budget’ – UK politics live

Chancellor says 60% of families that will be better off after the two-child limit is scrapped are in workAsk the Guardian your budget questionsBudget calculator: find out if you are better or worse offThe Conservative party is attacking the budget on the grounds that Rachel Reeves is putting up taxes supposedly to fund more spending on benefit claimants. Even though the rationale for this claim is questionable, the Tories were making it before the budget was announced, and Kemi Badenoch firmed it up last night, claiming it was a “Benefits Street budget”.On LBC this morning, asked if the budget meant “alarm clock Britain paying for Benefits Street”, Reeves said she did not accept that. She said 60% of the families that would benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit cap (the most expensive welfare announcement in the budget) were in work.I don’t think children should be punished by this pernicious policy any longer. And the cost to society of this is huge, the cost for counci...

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves has condemned us to a doom loop of ever higher taxes, debt and welfare spending. All the experts are saying the same thing about her cruel Budget

Be in no doubt: Rachel Reeves ' second Budget, which will tax the so-called 'working people' of this country until the pips squeak, is condemning us all to an ever-accelerating economic doom loop.

Economics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves says budget will cut living costs after shock OBR leak

Chancellor unveils action on energy bills, rail fares and two-child benefit cap as she reveals £26bn tax risesHow does freezing tax thresholds affect your tax bill?Budget 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves has declared her budget will slash living costs for millions including ending the two-child benefit limit and cutting energy bills, but taxes are set to soar by £26bn to plug a gaping shortfall in the public finances.Major measures in the budget leaked early in a shock accidental release by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), triggering an instant bond market reaction an hour before the chancellor was on her feet in the House of Commons. After months of speculation, Reeves said her measures would put the public finances on a sustainable path while building “a fairer, a stronger, a more secure Britain” by tackling inflation and investing in large infrastructure projects. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Budget exposes Labour to charges of being ‘high tax, high welfare’ party

For now Rachel Reeves appears to have reassured many fractious backbench MPs

Economics

1 week ago Online betting firms hit with £1billion a year tax hike in Rachel Reeves' Budget

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has resisted heavy lobbying from betting firms and pressed ahead with a tax raid on internet gaming firms

Economics

1 week ago So much for cutting the benefits bill: Cost of welfare to soar by an extra £16 billion, Budget reveals after Reeves surrendered over two

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said that Ms Reeves' decision to ease the limit on how many children parents are given money for would add £3.1billion to the bill on its own.

Economics

1 week ago ‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss

Chief executive John Roberts urged the Chancellor to cut spending and ‘make some difficult decisions’.

Economics

1 week ago Fury at 5m Brits paid NOT to work – as Reeves’s Budget will make 10m pensioners pay income tax

FIVE million people are now on benefits with no requirement to work — as Rachel Reeves gets ready to hike taxes to pay for even more welfare spending. The revelation ahead of tomorrow’s Budget sparked claims that Britain is in the grips of a welfare “crisis”. While benefits spiral, it emerged 10 million pensioners could...

Economics

1 week ago Reeves to launch crackdown on benefit fraud alongside lifting two

Move aims to bring in extra £1.2bn of savings as government seeks to head off criticism over welfare spendingYou be the chancellor: play our budget gameRachel Reeves will launch a fresh crackdown on benefit fraud at the same time as lifting the two-child limit for universal credit at a cost of £3bn, as ministers seek to head off criticism over rising welfare spending in the budget.The chancellor has made the decision to scrap the two-child limit in full, a move that will be welcomed by Labour MPs who have long highlighted its effect on increasing child poverty.Freezing income tax thresholds for an extra two years to 2030, bringing more people into higher tax bands as wages rise.Making salary sacrifice schemes less generous, including those for pension contributions.A pay-per-mile scheme on electric cars to help fill the tax gap from petrol duty as more people opt for green vehicles.Bringing in higher tax on the most expensive properties, including a surcharge on the highest-value ho...

Politics

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch warns Labour's addiction to welfare will 'bankrupt Britain'

In a stark pre-Budget assessment, the Conservative leader said Keir Starmer's retreats on welfare would trigger higher taxes for workers in next week's Budget.

Events

3 w. ago Revealed: AI is being used by benefits claimants to maximise handouts amid fears welfare budget could hit £1billion by 2030

Programmes such as OpenAI 's ChatGPT are being used to generate answers and write forms for claimants - contributing to a welfare budget which is predicted to hit £100 billion a year by 2030.

Economics

3 w. ago Sir Keir Starmer ducks demands to ditch the licence fee as he rallies behind the BBC and insists it is 'stronger than ever'... while Trump threatens to hit the corporation with a $1billion lawsuit

Downing Street pushed back against claims by Donald Trump that the corporation's 'corrupt' journalists are peddling '100 per cent fake news'.

Events

4 w. ago Not all olive oils are not created equal. Experts explain how to find the best bottle

Olive oil is widely touted for its health benefits. Experts reveal how to pick the best bottle

Politics