5 d. ago Voices: Why Starmer will be back for another stab at welfare cuts

Despite the humiliating U-turn on cuts to disability benefits, the prime minister has not given up on reducing ballooning social security spending. Ministers believe they have now found a way to proceed – and how to quash any rebellion, says Andrew Grice

Politics

6 d. ago Dire economic crosswinds mean Rachel Reeves must raise income tax

Editorial: Despite interest rates being brought to their lowest level in more than two years, a combination of meagre economic growth, high government spending and U-turns over proposed welfare cuts has trapped Labour in a fiscal straitjacket. But the chancellor must remember that good policy is good politics

Economics

8 d. ago Keir Starmer downplays warnings that taxes will have to be raised in autumn

PM says he doesn’t recognise some figures in independent forecast that projects £51bn shortfall in public finances UK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has sought to play down warnings that the government will be forced to raise taxes this autumn and said some of the figures being circulated “are not ones I recognise”.The prime minister was responding to forecasts from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), which projected a shortfall of up to £51bn in the public finances, given a number of factors had knocked the chancellor’s plans to stay within Whitehall spending limits, including higher debt interest payments and U-turns on welfare spending cuts. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Keir Starmer plays down warnings that taxes will have to be raised in autumn

PM says he doesn’t recognise some figures in independent forecast that projects £51bn shortfall in public financesKeir Starmer has sought to play down warnings that the government will be forced to raise taxes this autumn and said some of the figures being circulated “are not ones I recognise”.The prime minister was responding to forecasts from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), which projected a shortfall of up to £51bn in the public finances, given a number of factors had knocked the chancellor’s plans to stay within Whitehall spending limits, including higher debt interest payments and U-turns on welfare spending cuts. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Which tax rises could the government introduce to fill the £41bn black hole in Britain’s finances?

Labour’s pledge not to raise taxes on ‘working people’ leaves the chancellor with a limited number of workable options to fill a massive black hole in the public finances

Economics

9 d. ago Nebraska Republican heckled at town hall over Epstein files and Trump’s firing of labor stats chief

Mike Flood endures torrid evening with angry constitutents incensed by ‘coverup’, data commissioner’s removal, welfare cuts and immigration crackdown

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer hits back at ‘rattled’ accusation over Labour MP suspensions

Sir Keir Starmer rejected comparisons to Sir Tony Blair when grilled over the suspension of Labour MPs due to their opposition of welfare cuts.

Events

4 w. ago Keir Starmer to remove Labour whip from at least three ‘persistent rebel’ MPs

Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff to be pushed out as PM takes actionKeir Starmer is to remove the whip from MPs for persistent rebellions, starting with at least three of them on Wednesday afternoon.The Guardian understands that one of the MPs who has had the whip removed is Neil Duncan-Jordan, the MP for Poole, who was a critic of both the welfare bill and cuts to the winter fuel allowance. Continue reading...

Politics