Starmer heads to Canada for talks on security and trade Sir Keir Starmer flies to Canada later to meet Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England who became his country’s prime minister in March. The two men will get together in the Canadian capital Ottawa on Saturday evening, ahead of the G7… Continue reading Starmer heads to Canada for talks on security and trade

Minister to soften impact of planned disability benefit cuts 2 hours ago Joshua Nevett Political reporter PA Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is making changes to her package of welfare reforms in an attempt to reassure Labour MPs who are considering rebelling against the plans. Kendall has tried to soften the impact of planned… Continue reading Minister to soften impact of planned disability benefit cuts

Chris Mason: Reeves and Starmer can’t escape sluggish economy We are reminded rather starkly today of the backdrop – the all too hard to shift backdrop – that shapes our national life and conversation and the trade-offs the government confronts. The latest GDP figures underline the baked in sluggishness, the flatlining, even the shrivelling of… Continue reading Chris Mason: Reeves and Starmer can’t escape sluggish economy

Council tax expected to rise by 5% a year Getty Images Council tax is expected to rise by 5% a year to pay for local services including policing, documents in the Spending Review suggest. Local authorities have the power to raise the tax by up to 5% every year, without central government approval, although some… Continue reading Council tax expected to rise by 5% a year

Spending Review 2025: Key points at a glance 16 minutes ago Reuters Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given details of the UK’s first multi-year spending review since 2021. The review sets the day-to-day budgets of government departments over the next three years, used to pay staff and deliver public services. It also sets their investment budgets… Continue reading Spending Review 2025: Key points at a glance

Chris Mason: Reeves’s spending priorities leave little room for manoeuvre The words Spending Review may not instantly quicken the heart rate of many, but what we hear from the Chancellor Rachel Reeves will have an impact on what your life is like in the UK in the coming years. It could be one of the… Continue reading Chris Mason: Reeves’s spending priorities leave little room for manoeuvre

Reeves to set out spending plans up to next election Rachel Reeves is preparing to unveil her highly anticipated spending review, setting out how much money the NHS, schools, police and other public services will get over the next few years. The chancellor will emphasise plans to “invest in Britain’s renewal” by spending an extra… Continue reading Reeves to set out spending plans up to next election

Miliband defends winter fuel payment U-turn Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has defended Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ original decision to cut winter fuel payments and the subsequent partial U-turn. He told the BBC the chancellor would not apologise for withdrawing the payment from more than 10 million pensioners last year, arguing that she had to take measures… Continue reading Miliband defends winter fuel payment U-turn