UK Politics

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to apologise to MP Rosie Duffield over historic disagreements on trans issues, instead accusing Kemi Badenoch of using the topic as a “political football”. Ms Duffield, who now sits as an independent after quitting the Labour Party, has been accused of transphobia for her push to protect single-sex spaces and has previously claimed the prime minister has “a problem with women”. At Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), the Tory leader and the prime minister took swipes at each other over last week’s Supreme Court judgement on biological sex, with Mrs Badenoch accusing Sir Keir of “hounding [Ms Duffield] out of the Labour Party”. The prime minister declined to apologise to Rosie Duffield More

When Rachel Reeves turns up at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today she already knows that she needs a near miracle to turn things around.The dire predictions by the IMF itself ahead of the summit of finance ministers in Washington DC saw the UK set to have the highest inflation of advanced economies at 3.1 per cent while growth was slashed by 0.5 per cent to 1.1 per cent.For a woman whose mantra during and after the election was “growth! growth! growth!” the news could not be worse for the chancellor.And while the IMF’s revisions are a result of Donald Trump’s planned tariffs, the reality is that Ms Reeves was already struggling and under siege from competing demands from all sides.The chancellor now needs to land a number of apparently contradictory achievements to turn the UK economy around and save her political career and reputation.Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (James Manning/PA) More

Sir Keir Starmer should be held “personally responsible” if trans women are assaulted after he said they should use men’s bathrooms, a member of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) has said. The prime minister is either going to “put trans people in dangerous situations where they are vulnerable or force them out of society”, Jess Barnard told The Independent. “Both of which are an appalling state for us to be in,” she added. Jess Barnard condemned Sir Keir Starmer’s comments More

Borrowing by the UK government rose by more than expected in the latest financial year, new official figures show. Public sector net borrowing rose to £151.9 billion in the year to the end of March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.The figure will come as a blow for chancellor Rachel Reeves, who is visiting Washington this week for major Trump trade deal talks. It comes just a day after the UK’s economic growth forecast was downgraded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).The new borrowing figure is £14.6 billion higher than the £137.3 billion that was forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility. The yearly figure was also £20.7 billion more than the same period a year earlier.It also marks the third-highest level of borrowing in any financial year since records began in 1947, the ONS said. It comes only behind the Covid pandemic in the year to 2021, and the 2010 financial year following the global crisis.The new figures also show that borrowing rose to £16.4 billion last month, marking the third-highest March borrowing since monthly records began.Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (James Manning/PA) More

The deadline is fast approaching for voters in England to secure the necessary photo identification to participate in next week’s local and mayoral elections. With polls opening on May 1st, individuals lacking an acceptable photo ID have mere hours to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.These elections hold significant weight, with 1,641 council seats contested across 23 local authorities. Beyond local councils, four regional mayoral positions and two local mayoralties are also being decided. Additionally, a parliamentary by-election will take place in the constituency of Runcorn & Helsby.Crucially, only specific forms of photo identification will be permitted at polling stations. Accepted forms include passports, driving licence photocards, blue badges, and older person’s bus passes. Those without these approved documents must apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by the 5pm deadline on Wednesday. Failure to do so will result in being turned away from polling stations and the inability to cast a vote.This can be done online at gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.Applications for voter ID certificate ahead of UK local elections More

The UK’s economic growth forecast has been slashed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with a warning that the fallout from Donald Trump’s trade war will hit Britain harder than the rest of Europe. The global economic organisation predicts growth will stall by 0.5 per cent in 2025, compared to its previous forecast, with a further downgrade of 0.1 per cent in 2026. It means the UK economy will grow by just 1.1 per cent next year, and 1.4 per cent the year after.Rising government borrowing costs as a result of Trump’s tariffs as well as higher inflation and sky-high energy costs in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are all to blame, the IMF said.The downgrade raises the prospect of further tax hikes or spending cuts in the chancellor’s autumn Budget More