2 h. ago Voices: Starmer and Reeves are back from the brink – here’s what they must do next

After a spending review that came as a relief to many Labour backbenchers, the government must now start making the case for the ‘inevitable’ tax rises in the autumn that will be needed to deliver better public services, says Andrew Grice

Politics

13 h. ago Chancellor Rachel Reeves promises to 'change the future' in Wales visit

Ms Reeves was visiting Wales in the wake of her decision to allocate Wales £445m for rail projects in her multi-year spending review this week

Politics

15 h. ago Sadiq Khan's £210m Londonwide Ulez scrappage fund got 53,000 polluting vehicles off the roads

Revealed: fraudsters made 12,000 failed applications for City Hall payouts

Economics

16 h. ago Why there's plenty to like in Rachel Reeves' Spending Review for Edinburgh

The Chancellor’s Spending Review announcements should be welcomed, writes Edinburgh City Council leader Jane Megaher.

Politics

18 h. ago Keys to success: the 2025 Van Cliburn piano competition, the instrument’s Olympics

One of the world’s most prestigious and intensive musical competitions took over downtown Fort Worth these past few weeks. Will its winner prove to be another Yunchan Lim-style sensation?A distinctive line drawing of a grand piano adorns a clock face in Sundance Square. At night, it beams like a Tracey Emin installation, presiding over Fort Worth’s downtown district. At the intersection leading to Bass Performance Hall the crosswalk has been replaced with an oversized keyboard, and, inside the cavernous venue, sartorial style favours black and white stripes. A pop-up gift shop in the lobby boasts an array of musical-themed memorabilia; there’s the line drawing on a bubble-gum pink T-shirt, an enormous travel mug, a steak-branding fork. The theme-park feel is confirmed by a white Steinway emblazoned with Mickey Mouse – a limited hand-painted Disney edition (price on request). Welcome to piano city, smiles the sign.Every four years, piano lovers from across the world gather in this Te...

Sport

18 h. ago Voices: ‘Tax the rich first’: Readers demand fairer burden as Reeves faces fiscal squeeze

Our community overwhelmingly believes that to tackle the UK’s economic challenges fairly, the wealthy must pay their share through higher taxes and reforms, while calling on the government to move beyond austerity and provide clear, responsible funding plans

Politics

20 h. ago Sadiq Khan urged to cap service charges as London leaseholders pay almost £4,000 a year

Soaring levies will mean that shared ownership homes will no longer be ‘affordable’, warns London Assembly

Economics

20 h. ago Police 'won't prioritise phone thefts and shoplifting' with fewer bobbies on the beat as a result of Rachel Reeves' spending review, sources claim

The Chancellor's plans for a 2.3 per cent rise in police spending between 2023-24 and 2028-29 has dismayed police leaders, who insist the funding will leave a £1.2 billion shortfall.

Economics

21 h. ago Revealed: Fraudsters tried to claim from Sadiq Khan's £210m Ulez scrappage fund

More than 12,000 applications rejected by TfL for suspected criminality

Economics

22 h. ago Man City reduce matchday prices by up to 43% in major win for fans

Manchester City have taken steps to make matches more affordable for their supporters in order to improve the atmosphere.

Politics

26 h. ago Sadiq Khan meeting targeted by protesters after minicab driver caught in TfL licensing backlog chaos dies from heart attack

Veteran driver Rob Dale waited three months for a new licence. It finally arrived - 17 days after his death.

Events

37 h. ago Keir Starmer must come to the defence of his chancellor’s spending review

Editorial: In spite of Rachel Reeves’s much-vaunted increase in MoD expenditure, a rise to 2.6 per cent of GDP can only be achieved by draining the overseas aid budget, reallocating intelligence agency funds, and other sleights of hand. When the prime minister faces Nato leaders, including Donald Trump, he will have no choice but to spin the numbers

Politics

39 h. ago Finance convener calls on Scottish Government to ensure North Lanarkshire benefits from Chancellor’s spending review

Councillor Andrew Duffy-Lawson has urged the government at Holyrood to ensure that North Lanarkshire receives its fair share of the recently announced investment in Scottish public services as a result of the announcement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Politics

39 h. ago Rachel Reeves hit with headache after economy shrinks amid fresh fears of tax hikes

The Office for National Statistics said the UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April. Meanwhile, experts are warning that council tax bills will rise following Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spending review

Economics

40 h. ago Silvertown and Blackwall tunnel tolls discriminate against south London, Sadiq Khan is told

Drivers heading north in the morning and south in the evening have to pay £4 peak rate ‘surcharge’

Events

40 h. ago Poorest Brits to benefit most from Rachel Reeves's Spending Review

The poorest Brits will benefit most from Rachel Reeves’s public sector spending spree but tax rises look likely in the autumn, think tank the Resolution Foundation has said

Politics

40 h. ago Reeves will be forced to raise taxes this autumn, economists predict

UK chancellor warned ‘something important may have to give’ to fill expected fiscal hole

Economics

41 h. ago Gregor Poynton MP welcomes huge investment in Scotland following spending review announcement

Gregor Poynton MP has welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Spending Review, which confirms billions of pounds of investment to Scotland.

Economics

43 h. ago 'Sheer incompetence': John Swinney urged to cut taxes amid £1.1bn economic performance gap

The Scottish Conservatives say the First Minister should cut taxes following the Chancellor’s spending review.

Economics

43 h. ago Britain on track to become a ‘National Health State’, says thinktank

Resolution Foundation says half of all public spending will be allocated to the NHS and social care by the end of the decadeBusiness live – latest updatesBritain is on track to become a “National Health State” where half of all public spending is allocated to the NHS and social care by the end of the decade, according to a leading thinktank.Rachel Reeves used her spending review on Wednesday to prioritise billions of pounds for the NHS as she outlined Labour’s priorities up to the next general election, while squeezing funding for other areas. Continue reading...

Events