9 d. ago GDP jump offers Rachel Reeves some light as UK enters Trump tariff tunnel

Growth defied forecasts that chancellor had hobbled economy, but trade war casts long shadowUK economy far exceeds forecasts to grow 0.5%Business live – latest updatesEarlier this year Rachel Reeves was being written off for having jeopardised Britain’s economy. The chancellor’s tax-raising autumn budget had sapped business investment, spooked the financial markets and put the jobs market at risk.The latest official figures showing stronger-than-expected economic growth of 0.5% in February will therefore come as a boost for the embattled chancellor, in a sign that the economy was in better health than her critics claimed. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago How ‘liberation day’ rout compares with other notorious stock market crises

A swift loss of £4tn from global stock markets has led some to liken Trump’s trade war to 1929 Wall Street crashBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s escalating trade war has plunged global financial markets into the steepest rout since the spread of the Covid pandemic five years ago.Drawing parallels with the 1929 Wall Street crash and the ensuing 1930s Great Depression, the US president’s “liberation day” tariff plan has led to warnings of a global recession from leading economists. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Watch live: Economists grilled on Rachel Reeves’s spring statement as millions brace for bill rises

Watch live as UK economists appear before parliament's Treasury Committee on Tuesday, 1 April, to answer questions about Rachel Reeves's spring statement.

Economics

2 w. ago Spring Statement leaves UK SME’s more financially vulnerable, reports show

The Chancellor’s Spring Statement, delivered in March 2025, outlined long-term ambitions for economic growth through investment in defence, housing, and digital transformation.

Politics

3 w. ago Watch: Rachel Reeves holds press conference after spring statement backlash

Watch again as Rachel Reeves held a press conference on 26 March following backlash to her spring statement.

Politics

3 w. ago UK politics live: Rachel Reeves may raise taxes ‘even further’ in autumn budget, IFS warns

Ms Reeves has denied there would be further tax rises or spending cuts at the Budget in the autumn but stopped short of ruling them out entirely

Events

3 w. ago ‘Good chance’ Reeves will have to raise taxes in autumn budget, thinktank says – UK politics live

Institute for Fiscal Studies also warns Reeves over her focus on sticking with fiscal rules regardless of real world eventsIn 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 from welfar...

Politics

3 w. ago Spring statement latest: Reeves won’t ‘escalate trade wars’ as Trump’s latest tariffs could hit UK economy

A 25 per cent tariff on vehicles imported to the US will come into effect on 2 April, the US president announced

Events

3 w. 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

3 w. ago Spring statement latest: Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out tax rises in autumn budget

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

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves defends benefit cuts and denies further tax rises likely in autumn – UK politics live

Chancellor confirmed welfare cuts of £4.8bn in spring statement, but insisted the priority was to restore stability to the public finances Nick Robinson is interviewing Rachel Reeves on the Today programme now.Q: You promised just one budget a year, but yesterday you had to announce drastic cuts. What’s gone wrong?We’re not at the moment at a position where we want to do anything to escalate these trade wars.Trade wars are no good for anyone. It will end up with higher prices for consumers, pushing up inflation after we’ve worked so hard to get a grip of inflation, and at the same time will make it harder for British companies to export. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. 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

3 w. ago Chancellor Rachel Reeves visits Wales today amid backlash over benefits changes

Wales is set to see a new £250m investment in a boost the manufacturing sector

Politics

3 w. ago UK politics latest: Reeves refuses to rule out more cuts amid growing Labour backlash

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

Politics

3 w. ago Spring statement 2025 live: Reeves refuses to rule out more cuts amid growing Labour backlash

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

Politics

3 w. ago Spring statement: Should a Labour government be making these cuts? – Politics Weekly UK

Amid poor economic growth forecasts and global instability, Rachel Reeves is trying to balance the books by cutting spending on benefits. So why is a Labour government choosing this path? John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, and political correspondent Kiran Stacey to unpick what was in the spring statement, and what it will mean for you Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Spring statement 2025 live: Trump tariffs could wipe out Reeves’s thin margin of error on budget, OBR warns

Office for Budget Responsibility said the most “severe” scenario would ‘almost entirely eliminate’ the Chancellor’s £9.9 billion headroom against her fiscal rules

Events

3 w. ago Spring Budget 2025 RECAP: Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlines spending cuts in Spring Statement

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her Spring Statement, confirming the 2025 growth estimate for the UK has been halved to 1 per cent by the government's official forecaster

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves' welfare reform will push 250,000 into poverty, Government’s own assessment says

Charities had already reported a surge in calls and visits to their advice pages following welfare reform announcement

Politics

3 w. ago Spring Statement 2025 LIVE: Rachel Reeves warned economic plans could be derailed as UK growth forecast slashed

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has presented her first highly-anticipated Spring Statement to parliament.

Events