UK Politics

Rachel Reeves is considering climbing down on her non-dom crackdown to stem the flow of ultra-rich taxpayers leaving the UK.The chancellor is deciding whether to U-turn on the decision to tax non-domiciled individuals inheritance tax based on their global assets. The changes, which formed a key part of Labour’s general election campaign, have raised concerns about an exodus of the wealthy as they flee in search of lower taxes. And a senior City figure told the Financial Times “there will most likely be some tweaks to inheritance tax to stop the non-dom exodus”.Billionaire steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is among those said to be considering leaving Britain as a result of the chancellor’s changes. Rachel Reeves is considering a change to her non-dom crackdown More

Angela Rayner has hit back at critics of Labour’s ambitious plan to build 1.5 million homes, warning them to “underestimate me at your peril”. The deputy prime minister has come under increasing pressure over the flagship target after property agent Savills forecast that there would be only 840,000 new homes – just over half.Ms Rayner, who is the cabinet minister in charge of the policy, said she had been underestimated “all my life” as she announced the launch of a new government-backed project to support builders.She says the National Housing Bank will unlock new housing schemes across the UK, thanks to low-interest loans provided to developers hampered by rising inflation and higher interest and mortgage costs.The move, backed by £22bn in government finance, will see more than 500,000 new homes built, including many social and affordable properties, says Ms Rayner.It comes after warnings to the local government secretary that Labour’s election pledge for 1.5 million homes over this parliament is unachievable. In its forecast on housebuilding published earlier this month, Savills said 840,000 new homes will be completed over the next five years, with the property firm blaming a low demand from buyers.Government figures for 2024 also show a 28 per cent fall in new-build starts in England compared to 2023.However, writing exclusively for The Independent, Ms Rayner tells critics to “underestimate me at your peril” as she announced the housing bank scheme, which she claims would finally give access to housing for many hard-working families.Angela Rayner says the task ahead is ‘tough’, but has warned critics to ‘underestimate me at your peril’ as she targets the 1.5 million homes plan set by Labour before the election More

MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in a historic step that will usher in the most far-reaching change to reproductive rights in decades. After an emotional and impassioned debate in the House of Commons, MPs voted by 379 to 137 in favour of the reform. They overwhelmingly backed an amendment by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi to remove “the threat of investigation, arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment” of any woman who acts in relation to her own pregnancy.The reform is designed to protect women while retaining penalties for abusive partners or medical professionals who terminate a pregnancy outside the current framework of the law.During the debate, MPs had argued that the UK’s “Victorian” abortion law was “increasingly used against vulnerable women and girls”. Under the current law, abortion in England and Wales is a criminal offence but is legal up to 24 weeks, with the sign-off from two doctors. It is also allowed under limited circumstances after this time, including when the mother’s life is at risk. Women can also be prescribed medication to end a pregnancy at home if they are less than 10 weeks pregnant.Campaigners had called for a change in the law More

The vote to decriminalise abortion will herald the largest changes to the law on terminations in decades. The changes are designed to ensure women cannot be prosecuted for terminating their own pregnancy at any stage. While access to abortions is generally available in practice, this legal aspect imposes unnecessary stigma, restricts autonomy, and risks criminalising women and healthcare providers, campaigners say.Removing abortion from criminal law allows it to be treated like any other healthcare issue – governed by clinical guidance, not courts.This decision aligns England and Wales with countries like Canada, New Zealand, and parts of Australia, which have seen improved access and no increase in abortion rates – only safer outcomes.( More

Sir Keir Starmer has signalled a new hardline approach to tackling illegal immigration by limiting visas for countries which did not do enough to tackle the irregular migration crisis, like taking back failed asylum seekers.The prime minister revealed the plans on Tuesday after holding talks about illegal migration at the G7 in Kananaskis, Alberta, with French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and German chancellor Friedrich Merz.The readout from the meeting with President Macron talked about “innovative approaches” to be adopted to stop small boats crossing the Channel.Some 16,545 people have crossed in small boats so far in 2025 according to Home Office figures, a 45 per cent increase on the same period in 2024 and higher than at the same point in 2022, the overall record year for crossings. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit on Tuesday More

Keir Starmer has revealed why he rushed to pick up Donald Trump’s papers during one of the most talked about moments of the G7 summit in Canada. The prime minister and US president were announcing the implementation of their US-UK trade deal after holding a bilat at the summit in Alberta when the wind caught the papers, sending them to the floor.It prompted a swift response from Sir Keir, who stooped down and collected the bundle, before handing them back to Trump. US President Donald Trump, left, holds the UK-US trade deal document with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (PA) More