6 h. ago Starmer faces Labour turmoil and global volatility as he marks year in Number 10

The Prime Minister’s first year in office has been marked by a series of domestic and global challenges after Labour’s landslide victory.

Politics

9 h. ago Rachel Reeves admitted 'I'm under so much pressure' before crying in Commons

Chancellor Rachel Reeves admitted feeling 'under so much pressure' minutes before she cried as Keir Starmer spoke on the Labour frontbench - in scenes now being dubbed 'waterworksgate'

Events

13 h. ago No 10 defends chancellor after day of bitter recriminations over welfare bill fiasco

Rachel Reeves said to have PM’s full backing after she was in tears in the Commons amid fallout of Labour’s welfare bill U-turnKeir Starmer has been forced to defend his chancellor after a day in which the bitter recriminations over Labour’s welfare bill fiasco appeared to leave Rachel Reeves in tears and the markets in turmoil.Ministers said there would be long-lasting implications for the government’s spending priorities after it was forced to abandon the central plank of its welfare changes to prevent a damaging defeat by rebel MPs. Continue reading...

Economics

13 h. ago DAN HODGES: What one Cabinet minister has told me about what REALLY lies behind Reeves's public breakdown, the truth about Angela Rayner's role

We may never properly learn what finally brought Rachel Reeves to break down in tears in the House of Commons chamber yesterday.

Politics

14 h. ago The Guardian view on Labour’s welfare rebellion: Starmer must learn from his mistakes | Editorial

A poorly devised cuts policy was mis-sold as reform and MPs were dismissed when they pointed out the problemA clash between the government and Labour MPs over disability benefits was foreseeable long before this week’s Commons rebellion. That doesn’t mean a crisis was inevitable. Compromise might have been reached before the 11th-hour climbdown that averted a defeat in parliament.The conflagration that burned a lot of Sir Keir Starmer’s authority was all the greater because trust had broken down. The twin causes were failure of political judgment in Downing Street and bad policy. The prime minister underestimated the potency of MPs’ objections to the withdrawal of personal independence payment (Pip) from disabled people, and overestimated the capacity of his whips to bully and cajole his party into accepting the changes.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to...

Politics

15 h. ago 'I'm under so much pressure': What Rachel Reeves said before mystery tears as markets tumble and No10 frantically denies Starmer bust

The Chancellor is said to have made the admission to Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle before taking her seat for an extraordinary session of Prime Minister's Questions.

Events

16 h. ago ‘Certain inevitability’ to Grangemouth closure when Labour won power – minster

Michael Shanks told MPs the plant was ‘far too far down the line’ for the outcome to be averted by the time his party won the election.

Politics

16 h. ago Rachel Reeves' mystery tears send markets tumbling as No10 frantically denies Starmer bust

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sitting next to Keir Starmer as he insisted the smoking ruin of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

Politics

17 h. ago How Starmer went from defiant to defeated as he scrambled to get his bill over the line

The debacle over the welfare reforms has stripped Keir Starmer of his authority and left his government damaged. David Maddox tracks how the prime minister lost control

Politics

17 h. ago Rachel Reeves 'had row with Starmer' minutes before bursting into tears in astonishing moment at PMQs... and now markets drop amid chaos fears

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sitting next to Keir Starmer as he insisted the smoking ruin of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

Events

17 h. ago Voices: Only Angela Rayner has emerged from the welfare debacle with her reputation intact

It took the intervention of the deputy prime minister to persuade the prime minister that the game was up – now some Labour MPs are wondering if she’ll replace him, writes John Rentoul

Politics

17 h. ago Labour MP reintroduces bid for Hillsborough Law after campaign stalls

Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby), who was with family at the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, said a law is needed to restore faith in justice.

Politics

18 h. ago DAN HODGES: No wonder Rachel's crying! Keir Starmer's behind

The House of Commons has just witnessed one of its most incredible - and distressing - sessions of Prime Minister's Questions.

Politics

19 h. ago Reeves has Starmer’s full backing, says No 10 after chancellor’s tears in Commons

Downing Street says there will be no reshuffle, after Kemi Badenoch claims Labour MPs regard Reeves as ‘toast’UK politics live – latest updatesDowning Street has insisted Rachel Reeves will stay in post and has not offered her resignation, after the chancellor was in tears at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday.Reeves wiped away a tear after a series of questions from the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, who said Labour MPs had said she was “toast”. Badenoch suggested Keir Starmer had failed to confirm Reeves would stay in post until the election. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Rachel Reeves will stay as chancellor, says No 10 after her tears in Commons

Reeves appears upset in parliament, but has PM’s ‘full backing’, as her spokesperson says it is a personal matterUK politics live – latest updatesDowning Street has insisted Rachel Reeves will stay in post and has not offered her resignation, after the chancellor was in tears at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday.Reeves wiped away a tear after a series of questions from the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, who said Labour MPs had said she was “toast”. Badenoch suggested Keir Starmer had failed to confirm Reeves would stay in post until the election. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Voices: Starmer has been given two black eyes by his party – but here’s how he could fight back

Bruised by his welfare reforms battle, the prime minister is on a hook of his own making. With a little help from Westminster, he can wriggle off, says Andrew Grice

Politics

19 h. ago Rachel Reeves in TEARS as Starmer refuses to guarantee she will stay in her job in astonishing  PMQs after PM's benefits humiliation

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sitting next to Keir Starmer as he insisted the smoking ruin of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

Politics

19 h. ago PMQs latest: Rachel Reeves cries in Commons after Starmer refuses to guarantee she will stay on as chancellor

Chancellor’s spokesperson says Reeves was crying over a ‘personal matter’ as Starmer’s press secretary confirms she has PM’s ‘full backing’

Politics

19 h. ago Starmer fails to guarantee chancellor’s future and does not rule out tax rises to fund welfare concessions – UK politics live

Kemi Badenoch tells PM the welfare bill is a ‘pointless waste of time’ after climbdown heads off Labour revoltWelfare bill climbdown will have ‘a cost’ at budget, says ministerOn Wednesday, Angela Rayner sought to reassure people who had been “scared” about the proposed benefits changes, reports the PA news agency.Speaking to ITV’s Lorraine, the deputy prime minister said:Anyone listening to your show today, they know that there will be no changes to their welfare.I want to make sure that people are reassured by that, because a lot of people have been scared about what’s going to happen. Continue reading...

Economics

20 h. ago Keir Starmer refuses to rule out tax rises after Labour MPs force U

The Prime Minister refused to be drawn on whether he would increase tax later this year.

Politics