2 h. ago Reeves must scrap ‘bonkers’ pledge on pension triple lock, warns chancellor’s former economic adviser

Former Treasury minister Jim O’Neill, who previously advised Rachel Reeves, has warned she has ‘hemmed herself in’ too much by sticking to election pledges on taxes and pensions

Events

2 h. ago All UK families ‘to be worse off by 2030’ as poor bear the brunt, new data warns

Keir Starmer has been dealt a fresh blow to his living standards pledge in advance of the spring statementLiving standards for all UK families are set to fall by 2030, with those on the lowest incomes declining twice as fast as middle and high earners, according to new data that raises serious questions about Keir Starmer’s pledge to make working people better off.The grim economic analysis, produced by the respected Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), comes before the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, makes her spring statement on Wednesday in which she will announce new cuts to public spending rather than increase borrowing or raise taxes, so as to keep within the government’s “iron clad” fiscal rules. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago If Rachel Reeves were serious about growth, she would look to the EU

Editorial: There is one shortcut to prosperity: reverse some of the damage of Brexit

Politics

2 h. ago Spring Statement: Rachel Reeves to argue defence cash will boost jobs

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will argue the "world is changing" - and Labour needs to move quickly to ensure the safety of the country as well as the economy

Politics

5 h. ago DAN HODGES: Rachel Reeves has trashed the economy. But I have a bold suggestion on how she can rescue it and protect hard

First Rachel Reeves came for the pensioners. Then it was the nation's small businessmen and women. Followed by the farmers. But that wasn't enough.

Events

9 h. ago Rachel Reeves says Labour can’t ‘tax and spend our way to higher living standards’ before spring statement

Chancellor warned ‘that's not available in the world we live in today’ as she prepares to unveil cuts on Wednesday

Economics

10 h. ago How did it come to this? Labour’s journey from landslide victory to ‘deep unhappiness’

Rachel Reeves’s speech next week is being crafted as a ‘re-education’ on Labour’s achievements amid gloominess and sinking poll ratingsWhen Rachel Reeves takes to her feet in the Commons to deliver her spring statement next week, she will try to pull off what her inner circle describe as a “re-education” exercise over how Labour has used its early days in power.“We want it to be a re-education on all the good things we’ve already done in office,” said one, listing achievements including increasing the minimum wage, cutting NHS waiting lists and improving workers’ rights. “We want everybody to hear it.” Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Rachel Reeves says 'we can't tax and spend our way to higher living standards' in Spring Statement as high government borrowing leaves her little room for manoeuvre

The Chancellor (pictured) is under pressure to increase taxes or cut spending to successfully carry out October's Budget as borrowing has been high and growth figures have been disappointing.

Politics

12 h. ago Rachel Reeves rules out key Spring Statement policies after further blow

Government borrowing soared past forecasts in February

Events

14 h. ago ‘We want everybody to hear it’: Labour to use spring statement to showcase early successes

Rachel Reeves’s fiscal speech next week is being carefully crafted as a ‘re-education’ on Labour’s achievements When Rachel Reeves takes to her feet in the Commons to deliver her spring statement next week, she will try to pull off what her inner circle describe as a “re-education” exercise over how Labour has used its early days in power.“We want it to be a re-education on all the good things we’ve already done in office,” said one, listing achievements including increasing the minimum wage, cutting NHS waiting lists and improving workers’ rights. “We want everybody to hear it.” Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Rachel Reeves still needs to level with the British people over tax rises

Editorial: The chancellor’s Budget in October was a gamble that the outlook would brighten. It did not pay off

Politics

27 h. ago Why is Rachel Reeves about to kill off the night out? ...The Standard podcast

Plus, how much bottomless lasagne can one man eat? David reviews his recent trip down to Senza Fondo.

Events

30 h. ago UK politics live: Downing Street says ‘nothing off the table’ over British troops deployed to Ukraine

In her spring statement next week, the chancellor is expected to try blaming the drop on worsening global economics amid Donald Trump’s tariffs

Politics

30 h. ago Katherine Ryan opens up about new cancer battle after shocking misdiagnosis

The 41-year-old comedian opened up about her melanoma diagnosis in the latest episode of her podcast Telling Everybody Everything

Events

35 h. ago Labour members turn on Keir! Starmer ranks 17th in Cabinet and Rachel Reeves last as shock poll finds disastrous lefty ex

The controversial Climate Change Secretary had the highest approval rating of any Cabinet minister in a survey of more than 2,000 party members.

Events

37 h. ago Hammer blow for Rachel Reeves as government borrowing smashes expectations days before crucial Spring Statement

The public sector borrowed £10.7billion last month - the fourth highest February figure on record and more than the £7billion analysts had pencilled in.

Politics

45 h. ago To slash tax or splash cash... voters split on what Rachel Reeves must do in Spring Statement

An Ipsos survey found 31 per cent of voters believe Rachel Reeves should cut taxes, even if it means spending less on public services.

Politics

47 h. ago Labour poll shows most and least popular cabinet member as Keir Starmer faces fury

A poll of over 2,000 Labour members found Keir Starmer is the 17th most popular in his top team - and it's not good news for Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall

Culture

54 h. ago Government not ‘blindly cutting spending’ or heading for austerity – minister

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones also said cuts to spending at next week’s spring statement would not be an admission of economic failure.

Politics

59 h. ago Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares huge spending cuts to prevent tax hikes as spring statement looms

Whitehall budgets could be slashed by billions of pounds more than previously expected in a blow to public services

Economics