24 h. ago US House to vote on ‘reckless’ $1bn budget cut to Washington DC

Trump and congressional Republicans attempting to exert control over mostly Democratic capital cityWashington DC has found itself in the crosshairs of Donald Trump and congressional Republicans in recent weeks, with efforts by both to exert more control over the overwhelmingly Democratic capital city.The president on Thursday signed an executive order he said would make Washington DC “safe, beautiful, and prosperous” by stepping up crime fighting, arrests of undocumented immigrants and the processing of permits to carry concealed weapons. Trump separately directed JD Vance to “remove improper ideology” from the Smithsonian Institution, which has many museums in and around the city. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago 250,000 more people will face relative poverty after Rachel Reeves’ benefits cuts, DWP says – spring statement live

Department for work and pensions says thousands, including children, will be hit by chancellor’s reforms, as OBR forecasts UK growth to halve in 2025Spring statement 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers...

Politics

4 d. ago Universal Credit: health element cut in Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement 2025

Reeves outlined key changes, with impacts on welfare, household income, and services 💬

Politics

4 d. ago Reeves announces welfare changes, increased defence spending and new growth forecasts – spring statement live

Chancellor OBR forecasts for UK growth halved in 2025 but up in the remaining years of this parliamentSpring statement 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers was Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party...

Economics

4 d. ago Keir Starmer faces PMQs before Rachel Reeves delivers spring statement – UK politics live

Chancellor is expected to announce further welfare cuts when she outlines departmental spending plansRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers was Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party, which is in favour of a wealth tax.Across th...

Politics

5 d. ago Benefit cuts 'will have zero financial impact on Scottish Government', says Ian Murray

The Scottish Secretary said the SNP Government had been told that the welfare reforms would not result in its budget being cut.

Politics

5 d. ago Budget 2025 latest: Public want Reeves to tax super wealthy over cut spending in spring statement, poll says

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is under pressure to deliver in her spring statement

Economics

9 d. 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

1 week ago Three PIP conditions set to 'keep their payments' in new DWP points system

Changes to the Personal Independence Payments system could cut £5 billion off the budget but leave a 1.2m 'losing support'

Politics

2 w. ago Major update over plan to freeze PIP disability benefits as government 'rethinks'

The government is also expected to make it harder for people to qualify for the benefit in a move to cut billions of pounds from the welfare budget

Politics

2 w. ago Fat cat university bosses slammed over 'enormous' salaries as thousands of staff face the axe

It comes after Dundee revealed it was facing a “very severe” ­financial crisis and plans to cut over 600 full-time jobs to address a £35million budget deficit.

Economics

2 w. ago Donald Trump set to lift ban on sharing aid and intelligence with Ukraine after last

The United States was last night poised to lift its ban on military aid and intelligence support for Ukraine after a plea by Sir Keir Starmer.

Politics

3 w. ago Death In Paradise lets slip Commissioner's shock return after sad exit airs

Death In Paradise has seemingly revealed the fate of Commissioner Selwyn Patterson after he was told his job with the Saint Marie police team had to be cut due to budget issues

Events

3 w. ago Why Keir Starmer didn't have to make devastating cut to overseas aid

David Green of Christian Aid spells out what the cut to the UK’s overseas aid budget will mean for some of the world’s poorest people and calls for the cancellation of Third World debt

Politics

3 w. ago Department of Education braced amid reports of imminent Trump order to close it – US politics live

Trump order to Linda McMahon expected to claim that department has failed ‘children, teachers and families’, ABC News reportsThe Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has said that Republicans cannot meet their own budget target to pass Donald Trump’s legislative priorities without imposing cuts on Medicare or Medicaid.The House Republican budget blueprint envisions the House Energy and Commerce Committee will cut spending by $880bn, however, when its spending on Medicare and Medicaid are excluded from its spend, it only has $581bn of expenditure with which to make the savings.This letter from CBO confirms what we’ve been saying all along: the math doesn’t work without devastating Medicaid cuts. Republicans know their spin is a lie, and the truth is they have no problem taking health care away from millions of Americans so that the rich can get richer. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Europe holds breath as Keir Starmer insists Trump is still reliable despite Ukraine betrayal

Donald Trump has paused intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine in a move Keir Starmer heard will 'mean more brave Ukrainians will die'

Politics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer's aid cut will be 'music to the ears of terrorists' claim as anger grows

Former Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell said the decision to cut international aid by £6billion a year would be a 'clarion call to terrorists' as Keir Starmer faces a growing backlash

Events

3 w. ago Veterans say Trump’s plans to cut VA budget could put them ‘in the ground’

Some veterans fear losing services, but others say the VA should be ‘cleaned out’

Politics

3 w. ago Veterans are speaking out on the Trump administration's plans to cut the VA's budget

A handful of veterans speaking to The Associated Press are divided over the Trump administration's proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs

Politics

3 w. ago Hundreds of thousands face benefits cuts as DWP budget slashed

The Department for Work and Pensions is set to see its budget cut ahead of the spring statement as the Chancellor orders departments to cut billions from their spending

Politics