5 h. ago Warning issued on ‘vulnerable position’ of UK finances after Starmer’s welfare U

The OBR’s warning piles fresh pressure on Rachel Reeves ahead of the autumn Budget

Events

7 h. ago OBR: Vulnerable UK faces 'daunting' threats to stability of public finances after welfare climbdown

Successive governments’ efforts to put the UK public finances have met with only “limited and temporary success” says watchdog

Economics

8 h. ago Risks from climate, pensions and bonds leave UK public finances ‘vulnerable’

Office for Budget Responsibility warns national debt on course to hit 270% of GDP by 2070 amid volatilityBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s public finances are in a “relatively vulnerable position”, with pensions costs, climate change and volatile bond markets all posing significant risks, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility has warned.In its annual assessment of the long-term threats to the government’s fiscal position, the OBR points out that the UK has “the sixth-highest debt, fifth-highest deficit and third-highest borrowing costs among 36 advanced economies”. Continue reading...

Economics

9 h. ago UK public finances in ‘vulnerable position’ after Starmer’s U

The OBR’s warning piles fresh pressure on Rachel Reeves ahead of the autumn Budget

Politics

4 d. ago Can Starmer and Reeves hold the Labour Party together? Ask John Rentoul anything

The Independent’s chief political commentator, John Rentoul, is here to answer your questions as Labour grapples with a welfare reform crisis, mounting pressure on Keir Starmer’s leadership, and growing doubts over Rachel Reeves’s position

Society

5 d. ago Can Labour survive its identity crisis? Ask chief political commentator John Rentoul anything

The Independent’s chief political commentator, John Rentoul, is here to answer your questions as Labour grapples with a welfare reform crisis, mounting pressure on Keir Starmer’s leadership, and growing doubts over Rachel Reeves’s position

Events

1 week ago Keir Starmer scrambles to cosy up to Trump at Nato summit after flip

Keir Starmer was carefully positioned next to Donald Trump for the 'family photo' at the gathering in The Hague.

Politics

2 w. ago Now Starmer hails Trump's Iran bombing for 'alleviating threat' of regime getting nuclear weapon... after ministers spent days refusing to say it was the right thing to do

After days of ministers desperately dodging on whether they supported the action, Keir Starmer sounded a much more positive tone as he arrived at the Nato summit in The Hague.

Events

2 w. ago Keir Starmer signals support for assisted dying as MPs prepare for crunch vote

Keir Starmer said his position on the highly sensitive issue of assisted dying 'is long-standing and well-known' after he voted in favour of changing the law last year

Politics