12 h. ago The £4million bridge for bats that Reform councillor refuses to spend taxpayer money on because it's 'nonsense'

The discovery of barbastelle bats in Lincolnshire risks derailing a long-awaited relief road after the leader of the council refused to fork out an additional £4m for a bat tunnel.

Economics

3 d. ago Stop talking about wealth taxes — make these reforms instead

Any sane discussion of changes that both right and left could agree on is being crowded out by tax populism

Economics

5 d. ago John Lewis and Waitrose boss blames Rachel Reeves' tax hikes as losses balloon to £88m

John Lewis Partnership losses deepened following Labour's tax raid last year, but its boss has insisted there is 'good momentum' for the group's turnaround.

Economics

5 d. ago Rachel Reeves admits UK economy is 'stuck' as she vows to ease business rates pain for high street

Chancellor Rachel Reeves insisted getting growth going is her 'number one mission' and promised 'tax reforms' as she announced the overhaul.

Economics

6 d. ago Labour urges Nigel Farage to say whether he has financial interest in his Clacton home

Reform leader under pressure over £895,000 constituency property bought by partner Labour has asked Nigel Farage to confirm whether he has any financial interest in his constituency home, after it emerged that his partner bought the house – saving him a £44,000 tax bill.The Reform UK leader has come under scrutiny over the property in Clacton, Essex, after saying four times earlier this year that he had bought a house there. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Reform MP claims Nigel Farage’s tax affairs ‘irrelevant’ to the public

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice wanted to take the spotlight away from Nigel Farage’s tax affairs amid concerns over whether he used a legal loophole to not pay the full stamp duty on his constituency home in Clacton

Politics

1 week ago Angela Rayner’s political future in balance with rule breach report due – UK politics live

Verdict expected today over whether she broke rules on ministerial standards when buying Hove flatRayner’s future in balance as lawyers say they did not offer tax adviceThe Windrush commissioner has demanded “urgent reform” of the compensation scheme after being told by survivors that “the Home Office is waiting for us to die off”.In a letter seen by the Guardian addressed to migration and equalities minister, Seema Malhotra, and shared with home secretary Yvette Cooper, Rev Clive Foster says it is “deeply concerning” that 66 people have died while waiting for compensation for the Windrush scandal.Given the age and health of many people affected by the scandal, reform is a matter of urgency. Justice must be delivered in their lifetimes.A phrase I’ve heard repeatedly from community members is that ‘the Home Office is waiting for us to die off’. While I don’t share this view, I believe it’s important that you hear it directly as it reflects the challenge you face in building trust.We ...

Politics

1 week ago What are Reform UK’s policies as party conference kicks off in Birmingham?

Reform UK said it is ‘preparing for government’ – but what could that look like?

Events

1 week ago Starmer needs to show he is on the side of working people or Farage will become PM, warns Labour’s biggest backer

Ahead of the TUC congress next week, general secretary Paul Nowak has spoken to The Independent about why Keir Starmer’s government needs to introduce ‘popular’ wealth taxes in the Budget to combat Farage and Reform

Events

1 week ago Trade unions urge Reeves to fend off Reform UK with wealth taxes

TUC head says ministers must show they are ‘on the side of working people’ with levies on banks and gambling sector

Economics

1 week ago Working people don’t think Keir Starmer is on their side, warns Labour’s biggest backer

Ahead of the TUC congress next week, general secretary Paul Nowak has spoken to The Independent about why Keir Starmer’s government needs to introduce ‘popular’ wealth taxes in the Budget to combat Farage and Reform

Events

1 week ago Phil Spencer: rumoured reforms to stamp duty and capital gains tax would be catastrophic for London

It’s difficult to exaggerate the disruption and distortion that would take place in the lead up to any changes, half of London would be on the market

Economics

1 week ago Voices: Will Reform UK really end ‘free taxis’ for special needs pupils?

Deputy leader Richard Tice says the parents of children who are ferried to and from their specialist schools, at a cost of £2bn a year, are 'abusing' the system – but that’s not even the real problem, says James Moore

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer crushes bid to sing him happy birthday at Cabinet meeting after desperate reshuffle 'sidelining' Reeves sent markets into a frenzy

Keir Starmer stepped in to stop his new-look top team from marking the occasion as they assembled in Downing Street.

Politics

2 w. ago Now, about those tax rises Starmer gathers Cabinet for first meeting after humiliating Rachel Reeves and drafting in left

Keir Starmer's new-look top team will assemble in Downing Street amid fears the ground is being laid for another brutal tax raid at the Autumn Budget.

Politics

2 w. ago Reform UK's deputy leader claims parents are 'using and abusing' free taxis for SEND children and warns 'unsustainable' spending will bankrupt local councils

Richard Tice warned 'unsustainable' spending on SEND provision is set to 'bankrupt' local councils as he called for changes.

Events

2 w. ago Reform plots to cut council tax bills by £350 a year with shake

Deputy leader Richard Tice used a press conference this morning to unveil plans to improve the performance of pension funds, claiming it is costing taxpayers up to £10billion a year.

Economics

2 w. ago North Sea oil and gas will disappear 'within years, not decades' without Labour tax reforms

The industry body for the North Sea has called for the Chancellor to reform a controversial tax policy in her autumn Budget.

Events

2 w. ago Phil Spencer: catastrophic rumoured tax reforms would hit ordinary Londoners

Rumours that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering property tax reforms that include scrapping stamp duty, a tax on home sales over £500,000 and collecting capital gains tax (CGT) on homes over £1.5 million when they sell are likely to slow the housing market according to Zoopla.

Events

2 w. ago Torsten Bell’s manifesto: how could UK pensions minister shape tax reform?

Rachel Reeves has given the former chief of a left-leaning think-tank a key role in preparing her Autumn Budget

Politics