5 h. ago Voices: Is Keir Starmer just one crisis away from a Labour coup?

Party strategists are busy working out how to escape the chancellor’s doom loop of tax rises – and to crush damaging speculation about her boss’s ability to lead his party into the next general election. But the race to replace the PM may already have begun, says Andrew Grice

Events

5 h. ago Inheritance tax and the rise of ‘giving while living’: Smart ways to pass on wealth tax

With rule changes and frozen thresholds, more people are exploring financial gifting in their lifetime

Economics

8 h. ago Keir Starmer ‘plans rise in inheritance tax’ to ease debt crisis

Critics see inheritance tax, charged on estates valued at more than £325,000, as being a wealth tax in all but name

Economics

66 h. ago More foreign criminals to be deported before appeals in bid to end 'exploitation'

The government is introducing a 'deport now, appeal later' scheme aimed at tackling foreign crooks in the UK. A total of 23 countries signed up to the scheme.

Events

66 h. ago Soldiers can keep cats and dogs in their homes under 'pets for heroes' pledge

Troops can keep up to two dogs, cats or smaller pets without needing permission. It comes as the government introduces a raft of measures to 'stop the rot' and improve standards in service accommodation

Events

67 h. ago KEMI BADENOCH: Labour's council tax rises are a cynical raid on the very people who keep this country going

Rachel Reeves 's business-squeezing budget has led to rising unemployment, lower growth and a stagnant economy. As ever, Labour's answer is even more tax rises.

Politics

3 d. ago Marles insists Australia ‘not supplying weapons to Israel’ but critics argue ‘parts of weapons are weapons’

Acting prime minister decries ‘misinformation’ regarding arms exports while Greens claim ‘hollow talking points aren’t washing with the public’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government won’t follow Germany and introduce new export restrictions to pressure Israel, with the defence minister, Richard Marles, insisting no weapons are being sent from Australia to aid the killing in Gaza.Marles, the acting prime minister, said on Sunday that Australia was not exporting any weapons for use by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a claim rejected by human rights campaigners and the Greens. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago ANDREW NEIL: Rachel Reeves has spent like a drunken sailor. Now she's in a mad scramble for tax rises. This is what's coming... she risks tilting us into a death spiral

Britain's beleaguered Labour Government has begun a desperate scramble to determine which of our taxes should be jacked up - and by how much - in the autumn Budget.

Events

4 d. ago Reeves hopes promise of fairness will cushion potential Budget tax rises

People close to the UK chancellor say she has begun drawing up a list of measures she may tighten in the autumn

Economics

5 d. ago Christmas dinner warning as costs could rise after Labour tax changes

Two-thirds of retailers predict they will have to raise prices further this year

Events

5 d. ago Released violent offenders to be ‘locked’ in restriction zones in England and Wales

Women’s safety campaigners welcome plan to switch from exclusion zones that ‘have made victims feel trapped’Restriction zones aimed at “locking” violent offenders – rather than their victims – into specific areas when they are released from prison are to be introduced by the government in England and Wales.At the moment, exclusion zones are often used to keep an offender away from their victim’s home but many campaigners for women’s safety have long called for this to be flipped.Increased tagging for domestic perpetrators.Requiring judges to flag domestic abuse at sentencing so prisons, probation and police can better identify and manage abusers.Expanding specialist domestic abuse courts.Bolstering transparency for victims at sentencing – including the provision of free copies of judges’ sentencing remarks for victims of rape and other sexual offences. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Reeves leaves door open to gambling tax rise in autumn budget

The Chancellor said she was ‘deeply concerned’ about child poverty and the Government is taking evidence in a review of gambling taxes.

Economics

6 d. ago Fears of rise in uninsured drivers as insurance tax receipts soar

The AA urged the Treasury to cut the rate of insurance premium tax on motor policies by a quarter.

Politics

6 d. ago Millions of households will be hit with council tax hikes to pay for Angela Rayner's Government funding reforms

Households in wealthy areas could be hit with huge council tax rises under Angela Rayner's plans to divert more funding to deprived regions, experts warned last night.

Economics

7 d. ago Starmer opens door to income tax rise in autumn Budget as pressure to fill £50bn hole mounts

Labour prime minister pledged that plans to be set out in the autumn would make ‘sure people feel better off’

Economics

7 d. ago Starmer refuses to rule out tax rises in autumn as he faces growing pressure to fill £50bn budget black hole

Labour prime pledged that plans to be set out in the autumn would make ‘sure people feel better off’

Economics

7 d. ago Voices: Rachel Reeves must learn a hard lesson from Labour history – wealth taxes simply don’t work

Taxing unearned income is no way for the chancellor to plug her £41bn spending black hole – the better-off are best placed to find a way around paying it, says Chris Blackhurst

Economics

7 d. ago Budget 2025: possible Autumn Budget UK tax rises explained, what they might mean for you

With a big funding gap to fix, Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces tough choices 💷

Economics

7 d. ago Brit booze crisis as more than 1,100 pubs and restaurants shut since Rachel Reeves’ tax hike

Brits could soon be in a booze crisis as over 1,100 pubs and restaurants have shut their doors since Chancellor Rachel Reeves' tax rises in October, and more are expected to close

Events

7 d. ago Sir Keir Starmer declines to rule out tax rises as he defends handling of economy

It comes after warnings that taxes may need to rise to plug a £51 billion black hole in public finances

Economics