7 h. ago Spain rejects Nato plan for member states to spend 5% of GDP on defence

PM Pedro Sánchez says he wants a ‘more flexible formula’ that would make target optional or allow Madrid to opt outSpain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has rejected Nato’s proposal for member states to increase their defence spending to 5% of their GDP, saying the idea would “not only be unreasonable but also counterproductive”.Sánchez said that he was not seeking to complicate next week’s Nato summit in The Hague, but he wanted there to be a “more flexible formula” that would either make the target optional or allow Spain to opt out. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Ministers set out plans to spend £725bn on UK infrastructure over 10 years

Government strategy includes spending £9bn a year on fixing schools, hospitals, courts and prisonsMinisters have pledged to spend £9bn a year on fixing crumbling schools, hospitals, courts and prisons over the next decade as part of the government’s infrastructure strategy.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, set out plans on Thursday to spend a minimum of £725bn over 10 years to boost UK-wide infrastructure and achieve a “national renewal”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Reeves braced for OBR forecasts to blow £20bn hole in tax and spending plans

Downgrades by Treasury watchdog could force chancellor to raise taxes or cut spending at budget to meet fiscal rulesRachel Reeves is braced for revised forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to blow a £20bn hole in her tax and spending plans before the autumn budget.Even without changing the totals the chancellor set out in her spending review on Wednesday, a weaker forecast from the the Treasury’s independent watchdog could force her to find significantly more money at the budget to meet her “non-negotiable” fiscal rules. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Tories demand OBR steps in to scrutinise Rachel Reeves' spending plans amid alarm that her sums don't add up without tax hikes

Conservative MP Gareth Davies, the shadow financial secretary to the Treasury, called for the watchdog to assess Chancellor Rachel Reeves' proposals.

Economics

6 d. ago Police 'won't prioritise phone thefts and shoplifting' with fewer bobbies on the beat as a result of Rachel Reeves' spending review, sources claim

The Chancellor's plans for a 2.3 per cent rise in police spending between 2023-24 and 2028-29 has dismayed police leaders, who insist the funding will leave a £1.2 billion shortfall.

Economics

7 d. ago How much could YOUR council tax be going up? The pain looming for households as they face the 'fastest bill rises in 20 years' under Rachel Reeves' plans

As part of the Chancellor's spending plans, the Treasury suggested that local authorities would hike bills by 4.99 per cent a year for the rest of this Parliament.

Economics

7 d. ago Tax rises 'almost inevitable' as IFS torches Rachel Reeves' spending plans warning NHS and defence will need topping up and cost

IFS director Paul Johnson said he would be 'very surprised indeed' if heath and defence funding did not need topping up before the next election.

Events

7 d. ago IFS torches Rachel Reeves' spending plans warning NHS and defence will need topping up and cost

IFS director Paul Johnson said he would be 'very surprised indeed' if heath and defence funding did not need topping up before the next election.

Events

7 d. ago The Spending Review: the property announcements in spending plans revealed

All the housing announcements from the Government’s Spending Review

Politics

7 d. ago Rachel Reeves' spending splurge plans are ALREADY in chaos after GDP fell 0.3% in April

GDP was down 0.3 per cent in April, worse than analysts had expected, and raising more questions about the realism of the Chancellor's splurge on services.

Events

8 d. ago ANDREW NEIL: Starmer's claim to be 'investing in Britain's renewal' is delusional drivel in a class of its own

'Our first job was to stabilise the economy and public finances,' Keir Starmer tweeted yesterday morning, a few hours before Rachel Reeves delivered Labour's spending plans.

Politics

8 d. ago A reckless splurge we (and our children) will be paying off for years: Voters brace for tax hikes as Rachel Reeves embarks on unprecedented spending spree

In a return to Labour's tax-and-spend approach, the Chancellor set out plans to 'invest' a staggering £4 trillion to fund 'the renewal of Britain'.

Economics

8 d. ago Rachel Reeves pumps cash into NHS with 4million more tests and procedures to cut waits

The NHS and defence were big winners from the Chancellor's Spending Review as Rachel Reeves set out the Government's spending plans for the rest of the decade

Economics

8 d. ago Rachel Reeves has given the Starmer administration a new narrative: Investment, growth and expansion

Editorial: Alongside the Brexit reset, new trade deals and planning reforms, the chancellor’s spending review should result in a stronger economy with a better long-term growth rate. But it will take time

Politics

8 d. ago There may be trouble ahead, but Labour should stick to the plan for national renewal

Editorial: With the Brexit reset, new trade deals and planning reforms, the chancellor’s spending review could result in a stronger economy with a better long-term growth rate. But it will take time

Events

8 d. ago Spending review a ‘huge blow’ for police and ‘will hamper efforts to recruit 13,000 neighbourhood police officers’

The government’s £2bn spending plans will cover ‘little more’ than basic pay increases for existing staff, police chiefs have warned

Events

8 d. ago UK yet to commit to Nato plan for rise in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP

Nato chief Mark Rutte wants members to agree to plan at summit later this month but UK remains cautiousBritain has still not committed to agreeing an increase in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by the mid-2030s at the Nato summit later this month in line with a proposal from the alliance secretary general, Mark Rutte, defence sources said.Though Rutte visited Downing St on Monday and the Nato chief expressed confidence in a speech in London afterwards that countries would sign up, senior insiders complained that Britain was still dragging its heels over the issue. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Reeves unveils record spending plans but experts warn of tax rises ahead

Chancellor announces £39bn boost for social housing, £29bn for NHS and £11bn for defence – and promises to close all asylum hotels as she takes a swipe at Farage and dismisses Tory warnings of a ‘cruel summer’ of tax rise

Events

8 d. ago Murray asks who Scots voters ‘trust to spend’ £9.1bn rise in funding

The Scottish Secretary was speaking after Chancellor Rachel Reeves laid out her spending plans for the next three years.

Economics

8 d. ago Spending review 2025 – live: Reeves criticised for ‘fantasy’ plan as economists warn tax hikes ‘very likely’

Chancellor Rachel Reeves insists she will never have to repeat last year’s Autumn Budget, when tax rises were announced

Events