2 h. ago UK Government was ‘digging its own black hole’ before Budget, says Flynn

The Chancellor has been accused of misleading the public ahead of the Budget.

Politics

4 h. ago It’s under fire from left and right – but Labour’s workers' rights bill is a huge achievement | Polly Toynbee

It makes no sense for union leaders to cry betrayal when it will be their members who benefit from these sorely needed reformsThe wall of sound shouting “liar” at the chancellor is a bizarre Westminster frenzy. Stand back from the hysteria and ask this question: how can Rachel Reeves be accused of raising more money than necessary when there is still pitifully little to go round in every department at her cabinet table? It’s a weird Tory ramp that she lied about a black hole when we can see it everywhere in the real world. She could have raised more.As the prime minister, Keir Starmer, pleads the case for all that was Labour-flavoured in the budget, the week also brought a breakthrough for Labour’s flagship employment rights bill. Shamelessly stymied by the Lords’ Tory majority, the government watered down a clause on so-called day-one rights that would have given workers protection from unfair dismissal from the day they walked into a job. That legal right will now kick in at six m...

Economics

23 h. ago What lies beneath: How Rachel Reeves and her Treasury warned of a Budget black hole to justify tax rises

There are calls for the Chancellor to quit after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) watchdog revealed it had privately told her there was no huge black hole in the nation's books.

Events

36 h. ago Defiant Starmer to defend Budget after Reeves forced to deny lying about black hole to justify tax hikes

Calls for multiple investigations following accusations that the chancellor misled the public

Economics

36 h. ago 'Black hole lies' leave Reeves fighting for her job in worst crisis so far for Starmer Government

The Prime Minister was rallying to support his Chancellor after she had to deny on live TV that she had misled the public over the nation’s finances

Politics

43 h. ago Rachel Reeves forced to deny she lied before the Budget as calls grow for her to quit

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing growing criticism over her comments ahead of the Budget, after it emerged the watchdog told her privately there was no structural black hole

Politics

43 h. ago Starmer to defend Budget after Reeves accused of misleading public

Conservatives say chancellor exaggerated fiscal black hole to justify tax rises

Politics

45 h. ago Rachel Reeves denies lying about Budget black hole to justify £26bn tax hikes

Calls for investigation into accusation Labour chancellor misled the public

Economics

45 h. ago ‘Cool and quirky is part of our brand’: how New Zealand became a hothouse for indie games

Kiwi developers are punching well above their weight thanks to a unique government support program that offers more than just grantsThose not immersed in the world of gaming might not be familiar with Pax Australia: the enormous gaming conference and exhibition that takes over the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre every October. My favourite section is always Pax Rising, a showcase of indie video games and tabletop, the majority Australian – but there has been a recent shift that was particularly notable this year: many of the standout titles had crossed the Tasman, arriving from New Zealand.At the booth run by Code – New Zealand’s government-funded Centre for Digital Excellence – 18 Kiwi developers demoed their forthcoming games in a showcase of the vibrant local scene that was buzzing with crowds. In the comedic Headlice, I controlled a parasitic headcrab monster which could latch on to people’s brains and puppet them. How Was Your Day?, a cozy time-loop game set in New Z...

Events

47 h. ago Reeves fights for political survival amid claims she misled public on Budget

The Chancellor insisted she was ‘honest and frank’ about the public finances after opposition figures accused her of exaggerating the scale of the Budget’s black hole

Events

48 h. ago Reeves rejects claims she misled public over Budget ‘black hole’

The Chancellor insisted she was ‘honest and frank’ about the public finances after opposition figures accused her of exaggerating the scale of the Budget’s black hole

Politics

48 h. ago Rachel Reeves denies lying about Budget black hole to justify tax hikes – UK politics live

Rachel Reeves denies breaking Labour manifesto pledge not to raise taxes – but admits she is asking people to pay more

Politics

49 h. ago Rachel Reeves latest: Chancellor denies lying about Budget black hole to justify tax hikes

Rachel Reeves denies breaking Labour manifesto pledge not to raise taxes – but admits she is asking people to pay more

Economics

50 h. ago Awkward moment Rachel Reeves shown resurfaced interview saying she wouldn’t raise taxes in Budget

This is the awkward moment Rachel Reeves is shown a previous interview where she said she wouldn't raise taxes in the Autumn Budget.

Economics

51 h. ago Rachel Reeves latest: Starmer to back chancellor as she faces growing pressure over Budget black hole row

Downing Street denies claims that Rachel Reeves misled the public about a £20 billion black hole in the public finances

Events

54 h. ago Thousands of Scots jobs 'at risk from £32bn black hole in defence budget'

A previous UK Government pledge to ramp up military spending was not accounted for in last week's Budget, insiders told the Sunday Mail.

Economics

57 h. ago Starmer's bid to rescue Budget amid claims Rachel Reeves 'lied' about financial black hole

Starmer is now promising action on the ongoing cost of living crisis as the Conservatives have reported the Chancellor to the financial watchdog over her 'misleading' statements.

Events

61 h. ago Reeves must go for her Budget lies, say voters: Poll delivers damning verdict on Chancellor as No 10 admits that PM also knew there was no 'black hole'

A Mail on Sunday poll found a majority of more than two to one in favour of her quitting after the fiscal watchdog revealed it told the Chancellor months ago that there was no hole in the public finances.

Politics

61 h. ago 'Black hole' row: Call for Financial Conduct Authority investigation

Mel Stride said it had become 'increasingly clear' that the Chancellor had given an 'inaccurate picture of the economic and fiscal context' driven by 'political considerations.'

Economics

3 d. ago Rachel Reeves faces calls to quit after watchdog contradicts her £30bn ‘black hole’ warning

The Chancellor faces cross-party anger after revelations that the UK’s supposed £30bn fiscal gap was actually just £2.5bn, fuelling claims she misled voters to justify tax rises

Events