4 h. ago UK Government borrowing exceeds forecast as tariffs to weigh on public purse

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show public sector net borrowing rose to £151.9 billion in the year to the end of March.

Politics

4 h. ago Government borrowing surge means public debt mountain now equals £95,300 per household

Borrowing total was the third highest on record behind only the pandemic year of 2021 and the year following the global financial crisis

Economics

4 h. ago UK government borrowing soars as private sector activity contracts at fastest rate for 2 years

Overshoot of £15bn in public sector borrowing puts pressure on Reeves to raise taxes as PMI figures indicate falling business confidence

Politics

6 h. ago UK government borrowing spikes as Rachel Reeves scrambles to strike US trade deal to dodge Trump tariffs and revive economy in Washington TODAY

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has vowed to 'defend Britain's interests' as she prepares for talks with American counterpart Scott Bessant during the three-day IMF summit.

Economics

6 h. ago Government borrowing surged to £151.9 billion last year in new blow to public finances

The total was the third highest borrowing figure on record behind only the pandemic year of 2021 and the year following the global financial crisis

Economics

6 h. ago UK annual borrowing nearly £15bn above official forecast; stocks rise as Trump rows back on Fed attack – business live

UK government borrowed £151.9bn in year to March; investors cheered by hopes of US-China trade dealEuropean stocks have also opened higher, as a wave of relief spread across markets.The UK’s FTSE 100 index is up by 1.2% at 8,430, while the Italian FTSE MiB rose by 1.4%.Bessent threw a lifeline to fragile US sentiment with conciliatory remarks on the US-China trade war. Bessent said the current tariff situation is “unsustainable” and expects a de-escalation in the near term.We could witness a period where the dollar is tossed around by headlines of Fed independence risk and market-friendly news on US tariff policy. What is clear by now is that no other G10 currency has a higher positive beta to trade news than the dollar. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago UK Government borrowing rises above forecasts for financial year

The Office for National Statistics said public sector net borrowing rose to £151.9 billion in the year to the end of March.

Politics

7 h. ago UK government borrowing exceeds expectations in last fiscal year

Figures deal blow to chancellor as Trump tariffs hit economy

Politics

5 d. ago Netflix quarterly result beats Wall Street expectations despite Trump tariff’s pall

Streaming firm reported a $10.54bn revenue in first quarter, though analysts say consumers could reconsider spendingNetflix exceeded Wall Street expectations for quarterly results and offered a bullish revenue outlook on Thursday, signaling confidence amid the economic uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s erratic tariff plans.Netflix reported revenue of $10.54bn for the first quarter, edging past analysts’ estimates of $10.52bn, according to data compiled by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Shares of the company were roughly flat in after-hours trading at $970.10. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Gangs of London just featured this luxury briefcase – here’s where to buy it

One customer said the Carl Friedrik briefcase ‘exceeded all expectations’

Events

1 week ago In the face of Trump’s mayhem, Europe is the direction to which the UK must turn – and Keir Starmer knows it | Tom Baldwin

The PM will not antagonise the unpredictable president, but it is clear to No 10 that Trump is the problem and the solution lies elsewhereTom Baldwin is the author of Keir Starmer: The BiographyKeir Starmer was back at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday to watch Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid, a result that far exceeded expectations of his team’s chances in Europe. And, over the next few days, I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to snatch a short Easter break in the warmth and sunshine of that same continent.Football and family holidays offer him some much needed relief from the grim reality of a faltering economy, towering public debt and terrifying global insecurity, which are all being made worse on a daily – sometimes hourly – basis by Britain’s closest ally of the previous 80 years. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump's reckless tariff policy and determination to cut taxes means he will have to borrow trillions at a time when the interest rate on government debt is spiralling

Trump's economic policies may seem like a great idea to those he's surrounded himself with in the White House - but to sensible people they threaten to send inflation spiralling and make us all poorer

Politics

1 week ago We need more creative funding to unlock vital infrastructure for London

TIF agreements allow local governments to borrow against future tax revenues

Politics

1 week ago Reeves faces crisis as Trump’s tariffs send cost of government borrowing soaring in blow to her Budget plans

The trade war escalated with China hitting back by imposing 84% levies on imports from the US

Politics

2 w. ago Amazon's 'atmospheric' outdoor lights 'brighten your garden, patio and decking'

The Solpex Solar Deck Lights have 'exceeded expectations' for homeowners keen to make the most of their outdoor space this spring

Politics

2 w. ago Max Verstappen pips Lando Norris to F1 Japanese GP pole with stunning lap

Red Bull driver exceeds expectations in unpredictable carBeats McLaren’s Norris by one hundredth of a secondMax Verstappen claimed pole for the Japanese Grand Prix with an immense lap for Red Bull at Suzuka, beating the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri into second and third. Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari, with his teammate Lewis Hamilton eighth. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were fifth and sixth for Mercedes.The pole will be of no little relief to Verstappen and Red Bull and was very much against expectations, given that the car had not looked as strong as the McLaren or Mercedes in the opening rounds, nor at Suzuka this weekend. It demonstrated that given full rein, the RB21 is still a quick car and may yet be a title contender. McLaren looked strongest by some way in practice but when let fully off the leash at Suzuka in a tightly contested fight it was Verstappen and Red Bull who had the edge, setting up a fascinating fight for Sunday. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Potentially historic’ flooding threat looms after almost 100 tornadoes hit US

Rainfall near Memphis, Tennessee, is expected to exceed 12in over the next three daysA prolific tornado outbreak will give way to a rare and widespread flooding threat across the midwest and southern US this week, stressing the nation’s short-staffed weather forecasting and disaster response efforts.At least four people have reportedly died so far as nearly 100 tornadoes struck on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago ‘I would never be able to sing a song that a robot wrote’: Lucy Dacus on her new album’s themes of artistry and intimacy

As the indie singer-songwriter and Boygenius star releases her latest, highly personal solo record, she talks of her weariness of AI and digital art, the pressures of being in a public relationship, and her anger and fears in Trump’s USIn the shadow of a Hogarth painting, accompanied by guitar and violin, Lucy Dacus is singing about disappointment. The painting depicts Thomas Coram, founder of the Foundling Hospital in London’s Bloomsbury district. A shipbuilder by trade, he is portrayed in full baroque garb, a style usually reserved for the aristocracy. But amid the classical architecture and rich fabrics, he is shown as he was: the thread veins on his face, his feet not quite touching the ground. The setting is apt for Dacus’s disquisitions on life and love, and the ways they can exceed, or fall short of, the expectations we place upon them: the moments that feel exalted, idealised, as well as the times when reality intrudes on the fantasy.The Foundling Museum, the setting of toni...

Culture

3 w. ago My boss treats me like a lazy teenager. How can I set some boundaries? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

The sad truth is that most people with ‘bad bosses’ leave, but it’s early days and you want to make it work, so here are some options you could pursue• Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a relationship problem sent in by a readerI’ve recently shifted careers and started a new job in a big company, which is great in terms of salary and professional development. But as I approached the end of my trial period, my manager told me she’d taken a big gamble and put her reputation on the line for me, given that I’d worked freelance for years. She was clearly insinuating my probation period would be extended, despite colleagues telling me I’d exceeded expectations.She has a very odd management style and speaks to people of all ages as though we’re lazy teenagers, whereas we’re all very driven and pretty senior. She also micromanages while leaving us in the dark on important information. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Five economic factors that will govern Rachel Reeves’s spring statement

The chancellor will address MPs on Wednesday, warning of tough spending cuts amid rising government borrowing costsWhat to expect from Rachel Reeves’s (brief) spring statementRachel Reeves will give her spring statement on Wednesday, with a warning that spending cuts are required because “the world has changed” amid rising government borrowing costs.After announcing deep cuts to welfare, provoking a fierce backlash within her party, the chancellor will present updated forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on the outlook for the economy and government finances. Continue reading...

Economics