50 h. ago Who is running Britain’s economy – Rachel Reeves or Donald Trump?

The chancellor’s careful calculations for her spring statement are likely to be blown out of the water by a looming US trade war• From more tax to rewriting budget rules: six alternative ways Reeves could raise moneyAs Rachel Reeves powered through her spring statement on Wednesday, telling the country she was “restoring stability to the public finances” few in the House of Commons chamber seemed to know what to make of it all.Reeves’s message did not seem to resonate with the underlying mood of uncertainty and anxiety at home and abroad. Many Labour MP nodded loyally along with her, trying to impress the whips. Others on the government benches looked grave. Growth forecasts for this year had been halved. Money would have to be raised to meet the chancellor’s own fiscal rules, and the poorest would be the ones bearing the brunt. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Keir Starmer is one of Labour’s most rightwing prime ministers. And one of its most leftwing, too | Andy Beckett

The PM offers a political hybrid designed for a fickle electorate. There are short-term electoral gains to be won, but risks in the long termFor more than eight months now, since shortly after Labour won power, more and more people have been outraged by the government’s moves to the right. Starting with its decision to keep the Conservatives’ cruel two-child benefit cap last July, the government has regularly given these critics reasons to feel shocked, betrayed or just disappointed.From deportation videos to Keir Starmer’s declaration that “I like and respect” Donald Trump, from repeated public sector cuts to the chancellor Rachel Reeves’s talk of “tearing down regulatory barriers” in this week’s spring statement, Labour has often behaved as if the boundaries between its supposedly centre-left politics and the politics of the right or even the far right have simply melted away. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago ‘Minister urges ‘cool heads’ as Rachel Reeves begs Trump not to slap tariffs on the UK

Industry figures show the US is the second largest export market after the EU for cars built in the UK

Politics

4 d. ago UK not planning retaliatory tariffs on US ‘at the moment’, says Chancellor

President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on vehicles imported to the US will come into effect on April 2.

Politics

5 d. ago Trump tariffs: Britain scrambling to strike last minute deal to avoid 25% levies on car imports to US

The US president’s tariff on cars move came only hours after Britain’s budget watchdog warned the levies could force Chancellor Rachel Reeves to raise taxes or cut spending

Economics

5 d. ago Trump tariffs: Reeves says UK isn't planning to retaliate 'at the moment' after US President slaps 25% levies on car imports

The move came only hours after Britain’s budget watchdog warned Trump’s threatened tariffs on the UK could force Chancellor Rachel Reeves to raise taxes or cut spending

Politics

5 d. ago Donald Trump imposes 25% tariffs on car imports dealing new blow to UK and global economy

The move came only hours after Britain’s budget watchdog warned Trump’s threatened tariffs on the UK could force Chancellor Rachel Reeves to raise taxes or cut spending

Economics

5 d. ago Donald Trump's trade tariffs plan could smash Rachel Reeves' hopes of a UK economic recovery as experts warn trade war would cut growth and raise inflation

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warned that if the protectionist US plan developed into a full-blown global trade war it could reduce UK GDP by a full 1 per cent on its own.

Economics

8 d. ago Rachel Reeves ‘confident’ the UK can avoid Donald Trump’s tariffs

Labour chancellor did not rule out reforming tax on tech companies, like those owned by US President’s ‘first buddy’ Elon Musk

Politics

3 w. ago Trump’s tariffs will harm UK and lead to higher inflation, admits Rachel Reeves

US president facing retaliation from Canada and China after imposing long threatened tax on goods amid fears of a global trade war

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves warns Britain will not escape the pain of Donald Trump's trade wars as global markets tumble

It came as Mr Trump's swingeing new tariffs on imports from Mexico , Canada and China took effect - and all three countries said they would retaliate.

Events

3 w. ago Trump’s tariffs will harm UK even if we’re exempt, admits Rachel Reeves

US president facing retaliation from Canada and China after imposing long threatened tax on goods amid fears of a global trade war

Politics