3 h. ago Majority of voters say wealthy should pay more tax to fund broken public services

The findings come as Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver the Spring Statement with fears of a spending squeeze for some government departments.

Economics

7 h. 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

8 h. ago Income tax shock: London and South East now pay more than rest of England put together

The bill for the two regions has jumped above £108 billion a year

Economics

8 h. ago Rachel Reeves wields axe over 10,000 civil service jobs as she warns of hard choices ahead

Labour chancellor says the ‘world has changed’ since last year’s budget as she prepares to set out tough decisions in Wednesday’s spring statement

Events

19 h. ago Civil service will be ordered to slash £2.2bn from 'back room' budgets with jobs to go as Rachel Reeves desperately tries to avoid more tax rises in looming Spring Statement

Administrative costs must fall 15 per cent in Whitehall by the end of of the decade under a new drive, with jobs expected to go.

Economics

31 h. ago Reeves must scrap ‘bonkers’ pledge on pension triple lock, warns chancellor’s former economic adviser

Former Treasury minister Jim O’Neill, who previously advised Rachel Reeves, has warned she has ‘hemmed herself in’ too much by sticking to election pledges on taxes and pensions

Events

31 h. ago All UK families ‘to be worse off by 2030’ as poor bear the brunt, new data warns

Keir Starmer has been dealt a fresh blow to his living standards pledge in advance of the spring statementLiving standards for all UK families are set to fall by 2030, with those on the lowest incomes declining twice as fast as middle and high earners, according to new data that raises serious questions about Keir Starmer’s pledge to make working people better off.The grim economic analysis, produced by the respected Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), comes before the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, makes her spring statement on Wednesday in which she will announce new cuts to public spending rather than increase borrowing or raise taxes, so as to keep within the government’s “iron clad” fiscal rules. Continue reading...

Events

32 h. ago Spring Statement: Rachel Reeves to argue defence cash will boost jobs

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will argue the "world is changing" - and Labour needs to move quickly to ensure the safety of the country as well as the economy

Politics

41 h. ago Rachel Reeves says 'we can't tax and spend our way to higher living standards' in Spring Statement as high government borrowing leaves her little room for manoeuvre

The Chancellor (pictured) is under pressure to increase taxes or cut spending to successfully carry out October's Budget as borrowing has been high and growth figures have been disappointing.

Politics

41 h. ago Rachel Reeves rules out key Spring Statement policies after further blow

Government borrowing soared past forecasts in February

Events

55 h. ago Rachel Reeves still needs to level with the British people over tax rises

Editorial: The chancellor’s Budget in October was a gamble that the outlook would brighten. It did not pay off

Politics

56 h. ago Why is Rachel Reeves about to kill off the night out? ...The Standard podcast

Plus, how much bottomless lasagne can one man eat? David reviews his recent trip down to Senza Fondo.

Events

59 h. ago UK politics live: Downing Street says ‘nothing off the table’ over British troops deployed to Ukraine

In her spring statement next week, the chancellor is expected to try blaming the drop on worsening global economics amid Donald Trump’s tariffs

Politics

67 h. ago Hammer blow for Rachel Reeves as government borrowing smashes expectations days before crucial Spring Statement

The public sector borrowed £10.7billion last month - the fourth highest February figure on record and more than the £7billion analysts had pencilled in.

Politics

3 d. ago To slash tax or splash cash... voters split on what Rachel Reeves must do in Spring Statement

An Ipsos survey found 31 per cent of voters believe Rachel Reeves should cut taxes, even if it means spending less on public services.

Politics

3 d. ago Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares huge spending cuts to prevent tax hikes as spring statement looms

Whitehall budgets could be slashed by billions of pounds more than previously expected in a blow to public services

Economics

3 d. ago Chancellor to announce huge spending cuts in spring statement

‘I don’t know how much longer we can go on pretending this is not austerity’

Politics

4 d. ago Rachel Reeves not expected to make tax changes at spring statement

It is understood that changes to the tax regime are not expected next week.

Politics

4 d. ago UK politics live: Rachel Reeves ‘to announce biggest spending cuts since austerity’ in spring statement

Chancellor to lay out plans a week after Labour slashed welfare bill by £5bn

Politics

4 d. ago UK politics live: Badenoch hits Starmer with ‘emergency budget’ jab about upcoming spring statement

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver a spring statement next week

Politics