5 d. ago Warm weather and Mother’s Day spending gives retailers March boost

Total UK retail sales were up 1.1% year on year in March, despite Easter’s later arrival this year, BRC-KPMG figures show.

Events

2 w. ago Lammy to urge allies to boost defence spending to make Nato ‘more lethal’

It comes after the UK announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the Cold War.

Politics

3 w. ago Royal Navy could bring four laser 'death ray' weapons that can destroy a £1 coin from a kilometre away into service in just two years under defence spending boost

The spaced-aged 'death ray', dubbed 'DragonFire', is used to blow up missiles, jets and swarms of explosive suicide drones - with a former head of the Royal Navy hailing them 'war-winners'.

Economics

3 w. ago FTSE 100 Live 26 March: Inflation boost ahead of Chancellor statement, Ocado surges

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce welfare cuts and a boost to defence spending when she delivers a statement to parliament today.

Economics

3 w. ago John Healey challenged over £2.2bn defence boost as benefits to be slashed further

John Healey was challenged on whether national defence comes “even before the most vulnerable in society” as Rachel Reeves is set to cut benefits further in her spring statement on Wednesday, 26 March, while defence will see a boost in spending.

Economics

3 w. ago FTSE 100 Live 26 March: Inflation cheer ahead of Chancellor statement, Vistry halts dividend

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce welfare cuts and a boost to defence spending when she delivers a statement to parliament today.

Economics

3 w. ago Reeves to unveil £2.2bn UK defence spending boost in Spring Statement

Money for increase from April will come from aid budget and backup funds

Economics

3 w. ago Shell vows to boost investor returns amid plans to cut costs and spending

The oil giant has lowered its annual spending outlook to £15.5 billion to £17 billion over the next three years.

Economics

3 w. ago Spring statement: What to expect – Politics Weekly Westminster

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey walk us through what we can expect to hear when Rachel Reeves makes her spring statement on Wednesday. With the government facing downgraded growth forecasts, rising borrowing costs and the threat of Donald Trump’s tariffs, how can it boost the economy and save public services? And how will major spending cuts go down with the party and the public? Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves denies pursuing austerity as axe set to fall on Civil Service

It comes after a backlash to cuts to welfare spending and a decision to slash the aid budget to fund a boost to defence spending

Politics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves denies Labour is pursuing austerity ahead of spring statement

It comes after a backlash to cuts to welfare spending and a decision to slash the aid budget to fund a boost to defence spending.

Politics

4 w. ago Rachel Reeves denies Labour is pursuing austerity as Civil Service cuts confirmed

It comes after a backlash to cuts to welfare spending and a decision to slash the aid budget to fund a boost to defence spending.

Politics

last month Europe is crying out for leadership. After years of drift, Germany is finally ready to answer | John Kampfner

A historic vote to boost spending on defence and infrastructure shows the country is shedding its excess of caution – and its complacencyFew people outside Berlin’s political bubble will have heard of Lars Klingbeil. They will soon, though, as he is about to become one of the pivotal players in the new German government. The co-leader of the Social Democratic party (SPD) captured the moment in this week’s debate in the Bundestag, one of the most important in Germany’s recent history.“A few weeks ago, many would have thought that we couldn’t have come to an agreement. The differences were too great,” he said. “What differentiates this country from others is that we are ready, as parties of the democratic centre, to find solutions and not to leave the ground for populist extremism to blossom.”John Kampfner is the author of In Search of Berlin, Blair’s Wars and Why the Germans Do It Better Continue reading...

Politics