62 h. ago UK economy was doing even better than previously thought under the Tories before Labour took power, figures show

The revised GDP data adds to the evidence of Rachel Reeves ' dismal stewardship just days after the Budget watchdog halved its forecast for growth this year.

Politics

3 d. ago Keir Starmer is one of Labour’s most rightwing prime ministers. And one of its most leftwing, too | Andy Beckett

The PM offers a political hybrid designed for a fickle electorate. There are short-term electoral gains to be won, but risks in the long termFor more than eight months now, since shortly after Labour won power, more and more people have been outraged by the government’s moves to the right. Starting with its decision to keep the Conservatives’ cruel two-child benefit cap last July, the government has regularly given these critics reasons to feel shocked, betrayed or just disappointed.From deportation videos to Keir Starmer’s declaration that “I like and respect” Donald Trump, from repeated public sector cuts to the chancellor Rachel Reeves’s talk of “tearing down regulatory barriers” in this week’s spring statement, Labour has often behaved as if the boundaries between its supposedly centre-left politics and the politics of the right or even the far right have simply melted away. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Asylum hotels will house Channel migrants 'for years to come' despite Keir Starmer's vow to end their use

Before winning power at last July's general election, Labour vowed to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers.

Events

9 d. ago How did it come to this? Labour’s journey from landslide victory to ‘deep unhappiness’

Rachel Reeves’s speech next week is being crafted as a ‘re-education’ on Labour’s achievements amid gloominess and sinking poll ratingsWhen Rachel Reeves takes to her feet in the Commons to deliver her spring statement next week, she will try to pull off what her inner circle describe as a “re-education” exercise over how Labour has used its early days in power.“We want it to be a re-education on all the good things we’ve already done in office,” said one, listing achievements including increasing the minimum wage, cutting NHS waiting lists and improving workers’ rights. “We want everybody to hear it.” Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago ‘We want everybody to hear it’: Labour to use spring statement to showcase early successes

Rachel Reeves’s fiscal speech next week is being carefully crafted as a ‘re-education’ on Labour’s achievements When Rachel Reeves takes to her feet in the Commons to deliver her spring statement next week, she will try to pull off what her inner circle describe as a “re-education” exercise over how Labour has used its early days in power.“We want it to be a re-education on all the good things we’ve already done in office,” said one, listing achievements including increasing the minimum wage, cutting NHS waiting lists and improving workers’ rights. “We want everybody to hear it.” Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Labour’s clean power push ‘undermined’ if bills stay high, top donor says

Dale Vince said if energy bills do not fall from historic highs it ‘will be a stick that Labour gets beaten with’ at the next election.

Politics

2 w. ago Five key takeaways from the Guardian’s House of Lords series

Two peers are now under investigation after undercover reporting on members of parliament’s second chamber“Indefensible” was how Keir Starmer described the House of Lords three years ago when he proposed ambitious changes that would replace it with an elected second chamber drawn from the nations and the regions.Now in power, Labour’s plans are somewhat watered down, and even the first step, abolishing hereditary peers, is being challenged. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Labour press on with 'war on rural England' as councillors face being stripped of powers to block planning schemes under plans to push through developments

Labour's war on rural England seems set to continue as new planning regulations look to remove powers of objection from rural local councils and instead hand more control to developers.

Events

3 w. ago Scots losing faith in SNP Government ability to deliver on key issues like NHS and economy

A survey found many Scots remain unconvinced Labour could do a better job in power than the SNP, despite widespread dissatisfaction with the state of public services.

Politics