27 h. ago Voices: For crying out loud: are you ready for the ‘politics of pain’ about to hit us?

I once accused the PM and his chancellor of being too gloomy, writes John Rentoul. Turns out they were not gloomy enough – and they’ll have to lead the nation through another vale of tears

Politics

54 h. ago Keir Starmer refuses to rule out tax rises after Labour MPs force U

The Prime Minister refused to be drawn on whether he would increase tax later this year.

Politics

57 h. ago Welfare cuts chaos: Tax rises loom within months after Starmer's 'shambolic' benefit reforms 'saved nothing'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves now faces a £5 billion hole in her tax and spending plans

Economics

58 h. ago Welfare cuts chaos: Tax rises loom within months after Keir Starmer's 'shambolic' welfare cuts climbdown

Chancellor Rachel Reeves now faces a fiscal headache as a forecast £4.8billion in welfare savings have been whittled away to nothing

Economics

60 h. ago Welfare cuts chaos: Tax rises 'are more likely' after Keir Starmer's 'shambolic' welfare cuts climbdown

Chancellor Rachel Reeves now faces a fiscal headache as a forecast £4.8billion in welfare savings have been whittled away to nothing

Economics

7 d. ago Starmer ‘agrees’ concessions with welfare cut rebels as he faces huge revolt

Economists warn tax rises could be needed to fund a U-Turn on Sir Keir Starmer’s £5bn welfare reforms as PM opens door to concessions

Politics

8 d. ago Tax rise warning as Starmer in talks on concessions with welfare cut rebels as he faces huge revolt

Economists warn tax rises could be needed to fund a U-Turn on Sir Keir Starmer’s £5bn welfare reforms as PM opens door to concessions

Events

8 d. ago Keir Starmer admits government has ‘asked a lot’ of business, and defends employment rights bill – business live

PM tells BCC conference businesses have made a ‘huge difference’, following the tax rises in the last budgetFull story: Shell has ‘no intention’ of making offer to buy BP after £60bn takeover rumoursStarmer then tells the BCC conference that the spending review earlier this month is a “clear shift” towards investing in the future of the UK, not simply tackling the promises it inherited.Starmer says his administration have “wiped the slate clean”, stabilized the economy, and can now move onto building a fairer Britain, with change and renewal.‘I fully acknowledge that this year, as we’ve had to fix the foundations of our country, [and] deal with the unprecedented mess that we inherited, we’ve asked a lot of you.I understand that, and I want to acknowledge that.They are all vital for the long-term growth of our country. But none of that would have been possible without your contribution. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Starmer leaves door open for tax rises to fund rise in defence spending

IFS director Paul Johnson warned that the £30bn increase in defence spending would need to be funded by tax rises

Economics

1 week ago Brace yourself for MORE tax rises as Keir Starmer ploughs billions into defence and the NHS and Labour backbenchers rebel over welfare cuts to pay for it

The PM will join fellow Nato leaders in The Hague today after signing up to the goal of spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence.

Economics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer fails to rule out further tax rises to fund his winter fuel U

The Prime Minister refused to set out in the House of Commons how Labour would stump up the estimated £1.25billion needed for his humiliating reversal.

Economics