8 h. ago Voices: Starmer and Reeves are back from the brink – here’s what they must do next

After a spending review that came as a relief to many Labour backbenchers, the government must now start making the case for the ‘inevitable’ tax rises in the autumn that will be needed to deliver better public services, says Andrew Grice

Politics

31 h. ago Cheaper mortgages and relaxed lending rules push up price of a first home

Falling interest rates and the ability to borrow more are set to push prices of first-time buyer homes even higher, after they already spiked at the start of 2025.

Economics

45 h. ago Finance convener calls on Scottish Government to ensure North Lanarkshire benefits from Chancellor’s spending review

Councillor Andrew Duffy-Lawson has urged the government at Holyrood to ensure that North Lanarkshire receives its fair share of the recently announced investment in Scottish public services as a result of the announcement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Politics

51 h. ago The Spending Review: the property announcements in spending plans revealed

All the housing announcements from the Government’s Spending Review

Politics

51 h. ago UK government downplays ‘understandable’ US review of Aukus submarine deal

The reported review has raised fears Trump's administration could pull out if the deal did not meet its "America first" agenda.

Politics

52 h. ago US review of Aukus submarine deal ‘understandable’ – UK Government

The review is headed by Elbridge Colby, an official at the US defence department who has previously described himself as ‘sceptical’ of the pact.

Politics

52 h. ago UK Government ‘committed’ to Acorn carbon capture project in Scotland – minister

Kirsty McNeill said the inclusion of development funding for the scheme in the spending review shows the Government’s support for it.

Politics

54 h. ago Business news live: FTSE 100 flat as UK economy stalls after Asia stocks down overnight

Market reaction and business news ahead of the government’s spending review

Economics

54 h. ago Government Spending Review 2025: Economy shrinks as NHS spending surges and struggling councils miss out

From a surprise economic slump and warnings of a “National Health State”, to council funding concerns, a 74 per cent house price surge, and rising Tesco sales - here are today’s top UK business stories.

Politics

56 h. ago Rachel Reeves seized her moment – whatever the future brings, Labour’s economic course is now set | Martin Kettle

The chancellor is no mere technocrat: her spending review revealed a visceral commitment to social and economic mobilityThe consensus has long been that the 2025 spending review would be a defining moment for Keir Starmer’s government. For once, the consensus proved spot-on. The government’s main priorities were set out on Wednesday in a blizzard of Commons announcements from Rachel Reeves, some economically substantive, others more for show. The upshot is that the shape of the British state, as Labour intends it, is now decided until the eve of the next election.There are further crossroads still to come, some of them major, as the years covered by the review unroll. Taxes are likely to rise, probably as soon as the autumn budget, to pay for Reeves’s big ticket boosts on Wednesday for defence, health and housing. Council tax could rise too, with possibly dramatic results. The review’s emphasis on capital spending means current spending could be squeezed again, perhaps heralding pay...

Economics

64 h. ago Rachel Reeves pumps cash into NHS with 4million more tests and procedures to cut waits

The NHS and defence were big winners from the Chancellor's Spending Review as Rachel Reeves set out the Government's spending plans for the rest of the decade

Economics

67 h. ago ‘Bombshell’ badger cull study review ‘disproves evidence’ used by governments to justify killings

‘Justification for lethal control to date appears to have been based on basic statistical oversight,’ says independent reviewer

Events

68 h. ago Government can hit NHS waiting times targets despite scepticism, says Reeves

The NHS has received a 3% increase in real terms per year in the Government spending review.

Events

69 h. ago Treasury minister dismisses claims spending review will lead to autumn tax rises – UK politics live

Darren Jones says such claims are ‘incoherent’ and the government is allocating money that has already been raisedSpending review: key points at a glanceGreen party MPs and activists joined a protest outside parliament today saying the government should use the spending review to announce a wealth tax. In a post on social media, Adrian Ramsay, the party’s co-leader, said:We expect the chancellor to take another axe to public spending today: decline by design from a govt that refuses to tax wealth to properly fund our overstretched public services & support the most vulnerable. We need to invest in a secure & fairer future. #TaxExtremeWealth Continue reading...

Politics

69 h. ago Business news live: FTSE 100 closes below new high, Meta set for $15bn AI deal

Market reaction and business news ahead of the government’s spending review

Economics

69 h. ago Britain will be ‘defence industrial superpower’ with extra cash, Reeves says

Defence is one of the areas of Government spending which benefited most at the spending review on Wednesday.

Politics

69 h. ago Spending Review sees UK Government gamble on trust, not just spending

The Spending Review has sparked a row between the administrations

Politics

2 d. ago Business news live: FTSE 100 rises towards new record high, Meta set for $15bn AI deal

Market reaction and business news ahead of the government’s spending review

Economics

2 d. ago Reeves says use of hotels for asylum seekers to end ‘in this parliament’ – UK politics live

Chancellor delivers spending review, claiming asylum move will save £1bn and says health spending represents a record cash investmentSpending review: key points at a glanceGreen party MPs and activists joined a protest outside parliament today saying the government should use the spending review to announce a wealth tax. In a post on social media, Adrian Ramsay, the party’s co-leader, said:We expect the chancellor to take another axe to public spending today: decline by design from a govt that refuses to tax wealth to properly fund our overstretched public services & support the most vulnerable. We need to invest in a secure & fairer future. #TaxExtremeWealth Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Business news live: FTSE 100 rises towards new record high, Google staff cuts latest

Market reaction and business news ahead of the government’s spending review

Events