Markus Andrews

Rachel Reeves has warned of “harsh global headwinds” battering Britain’s economy, as she failed to dispel fears over major tax rises at the next Budget. In an upbeat but policy-light speech on the main stage of the Labour conference in Liverpool, the chancellor attempted to fight back against a growing sense of doom and gloom about the economy, instead saying she sees a country that is “primed for economic success”. She also appeared to take aim at Andy Burnham over his economic approach, warning that unrestrained borrowing is “dangerously wrong”. Appearing more confident and relaxed than she has been in months, the chancellor received ten standing ovations as she set out her pitch to Labour members ahead of what will be a difficult Budget in November. “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that there’s no difference between the Conservatives and Labour”, she repeatedly warned. Rachel Reeves addressed the main stage of the Labour conference in Liverpool More

Britons believe the UK is viewed as “weak” and a “soft touch” by people abroad, according to a leading pollster who found that just one in four think the UK is seen in a positive light.The new poll, from More in Common and Save the Children, shared exclusively with The Independent, found that three out of four Britons (75 per cent) say that the UK’s international perception matters.“Britons are not little Englanders,” said Luke Tryl, director of More In Common. “They care about how our country is seen on the world stage, even if only a quarter think we’re seen positively right now.”Three out of four Britons say that the UK’s international perception matters More

The UK’s leading polling expert has warned Labour not to make the same “mistake” as the Conservatives and focus too heavily on immigration. Professor Sir John Curtice cautioned against focusing too much on an issue over which ministers did not have complete control until the world becomes a safer place. It came as Rachel Reeves defended Sir Keir Starmer’s attack on Reform UK’s plans to remove indefinite leave to remain for non-EU migrants already living in Britain as “racist”.Sir John told an event at the Labour conference that the party must not “repeat the Tories’ mistake, where you focus on an issue where you don’t have total control”, and that improving the economy and the NHS was more likely to return voters to the party.Political scientist Curtice says many voters still don’t know what the prime minister stands for More

Keir Starmer has revealed to friends that the “Unite the Kingdom” march in London was the moment he realised he needed to publicly fight back against Reform UK and the growing anti-immigration rhetoric in Britain. The prime minister is understood to have expressed his shock at the size of the event, which took place earlier this month, after seeing “that many people follow a far-right figure like Tommy Robinson”.The march in Whitehall and the surrounding streets, which amplified racism and anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, was estimated by police to have attracted around 150,000 people.Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, told his followers in a video posted to X that “the spark has started, the revolution is on”, while tech billionaire Elon Musk told the rally that “massive uncontrolled migration” was contributing to the “destruction of Britain”. Tommy Robinson with fellow far right activist Katie Hopkins on the march More

Rachel Reeves has warned of “harder” choices to come ahead of Labour’s Autumn Budget as she made her main stage address at the party’s conference in Liverpool.Further tax rises are now widely expected at the crunch fiscal event, as the chancellor looks to counteract the country’s ailing economic performance.Government borrowing in August was the highest in five years, official figures revealed. While tax receipts had increased following Labour’s first Autumn Budget, the rises were offset by higher spending on public services, benefits and interest on debt, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.Economists have predicted the chancellor may need to find as much as £40bn.Speaking on Monday, Ms Reeves doubled down on Labour’s commitment not to raise taxes for “working people” – meaning no rise to the headline rate of income tax, national insurance or VAT.As with last year’s event, this means the Treasury will need to consider more roundabout ways to raise vital revenue while also trying to bolster Labour’s dropping popularity.Speaking to delegates, Ms Reeves said: “In the months ahead, we will face further tests, with the choices to come made all the harder by harsh global headwinds and the long-term damage done to our economy, which is becoming ever clearer.“Our first year in power was about fixing the foundations. Our second must be about building a renewed economy for a renewed Britain.”Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves on the campaign trail in Southport last June More

Sir Keir Starmer was grilled at the start of the Labour conference over allegations that he previously avoided an inheritance tax bill.The prime minister denied putting a seven-acre field he bought behind his parents’ property into a trust, which would have allowed him not to pay inheritance tax.He said he bought the land in 1996 to use as a donkey sanctuary, so his mother and father could care for the animals.Sir Keir gave the land to his parents through a structure which meant when they died, the field’s value was excluded from their estate, The Sunday Times reported over the weekend.Keir Starmer was asked about the field on the BBC’s ‘Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg’ programme More