13 h. ago Reeves to squeeze public spending further in Spring Statement

Billions of pounds of savings sought from Whitehall budgets to fill a hole in the public finances

Politics

40 h. ago Hairdressers call for tax reform in ‘save our salons’ Westminster protest

The British Hair Consortium wants VAT on labour costs to be cut from 20% to 10% in the Spring Statement.

Events

43 h. ago Campaign to raise personal tax allowance from £12,570 to £20,000 in Budget backed by 84,000 people

The Spring Statement is set to be delivered on March 23 and campaigners are urging the Chancellor to increase the tax threshold for state pensions in the upcoming Budget

Economics

49 h. ago OECD cuts UK growth forecasts as Reeves grapples with weak economy

Downgrade comes ahead of Spring Statement, when official forecasts are expected to show much weaker GDP outlook

Politics

49 h. ago Brits demand personal tax allowance raise from £12,570 to £20,000 as petition hits 190k

A campaign urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to raise the tax threshold for state pensions in this year's Spring Statement has been signed by 190,000 people

Economics

58 h. ago Stalling growth leaves Rachel Reeves facing a £4.4billion black hole ahead of her Spring Statement 

Britain's darkening growth outlook means that the £9.9billion 'headroom' left by the Budget in October has been more than wiped out, the Resolution Foundation think-tank said.

Economics

59 h. ago Chancellor should raise taxes not cut spending to meet fiscal rules – think tank

Rachel Reeves faces a challenge to meet her fiscal rules amid faltering growth and higher borrowing costs.

Economics

68 h. ago Update on calls to increase personal tax allowance from £12,570 to £20,000 as backing soars

A petition has racked up more than 85,000 signatures as pressure grows on Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the Spring Statement

Economics

4 d. ago UK economy shrinks in January; stocks and euro jump on German debt deal – as it happened

UK economy unexpectedly contracts by 0.1% in January in blow to the chancellor ahead of spring statement; Friedrich Merz declares: ‘Germany is back’Let’s look at the GDP figures in more detail.The 0.9% drop in production output in January, which came after 0.5% growth in December, was mainly caused by a 1.1% slump in manufacturing while mining and quarrying also declined. Basic metals and metal products were down along with pharmaceutical products. Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago UK economy shrinks in January; stocks and euro jump on German debt deal – business live

UK economy unexpectedly contracts by 0.1% in January in blow to the chancellor ahead of spring statement; Friedrich Merz declares: ‘Germany is back’Let’s look at the GDP figures in more detail.The 0.9% drop in production output in January, which came after 0.5% growth in December, was mainly caused by a 1.1% slump in manufacturing while mining and quarrying also declined. Basic metals and metal products were down along with pharmaceutical products. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago What is a recession? UK sees 0.1% fall in GDP ahead of Rachel Reeves' spring statement

Recession fears loom as the UK economy unexpectedly shrank at the beginning of the year

Politics

5 d. ago New calls to ‘stop taxing the State Pension’ ahead of Spring Statement

More than 81,000 people have signed an online petition urging Chancellor Reeves to raise the £12,570 Personal Allowance for pensioners.

Economics

5 d. ago Shrinking economy offers unhelpful backdrop for Rachel Reeves’s growth push

GDP goes in wrong direction as chancellor puts final touches to fiscal plansUK economy shrinks unexpectedly in blow to ReevesFor a government that has made growth its overriding mission, the 0.1% decline in GDP in January signalled by the Office for National Statistics will be depressing news.As Rachel Reeves prepares to announce her spring statement on 26 March, the economy appears to be going in the wrong direction – underlining the fact that the Office for Budget Responsibility is likely to have presented her with notably weaker forecasts than in October. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Chancellor ‘determined to turn around’ economy amid surprise fall in GDP

Figures revealed a surprise contraction in the economy in January, in a blow to Rachel Reeves ahead of her spring statement.

Politics

5 d. ago UK economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% in January in blow to Rachel Reeves

The slowdown in January piles further pressure on Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer ahead off this month’s spring statement

Politics

6 d. ago Why Keir Starmer’s government is seeking to cut benefits bill

Labour targeting sickness and disability benefits which have ballooned amid an increasingly ageing and unwell population Keir Starmer’s government is aiming to cut billions of pounds from welfare spending before the spring statement.The prime minister has warned that Britain’s benefits system is the “worst of all worlds”, before the government publishes a green paper on sickness and disability benefit reform next week. Starmer faces the biggest rebellion of his premiership over the plans. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Why is Keir Starmer’s government seeking to cut the benefits bill?

Labour targeting sickness and disability benefits that have ballooned amid increasingly ageing and unwell populationKeir Starmer’s government is aiming to cut billions of pounds from welfare spending before the spring statement.The prime minister has warned that Britain’s benefits system is the “worst of all worlds”, before the government publishes a green paper on sickness and disability benefit changes next week. Starmer is facing the biggest rebellion of his premiership over the plans. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Rachel Reeves delays plans to reform cash ISAs until after her Spring Statement

The Chancellor was said to be considering the idea of reducing the amount that can be saved into cash Isas annually to encourage people to direct more money into stocks and shares.

Politics

6 d. ago Reeves delays plan to reform cash Isas until after Spring Statement

City executives have urged chancellor to lower cap on tax-free savings

Politics

9 d. ago More support for people in ill health to stay in work ‘could save UK £1bn’

Commission for Healthier Working Lives warns against cutting benefits and calls for proactive route for 8m affectedProviding more support for people in ill health to stay in work could save the UK government more than £1bn, according to a report warning ministers against cutting benefits.As the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, looks for savings before the 26 March spring statement, the cross-sector Commission for Healthier Working Lives has called for a new approach to supporting the 8 million people in Britain with a work-limiting health condition. Continue reading...

Economics