UK Politics

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseSir Keir Starmer is facing a backlash from Angela Rayner and his cabinet over “huge” cuts to departmental spending to be unveiled in Rachel Reeves’ Budget.The prime minister has received letters from senior ministers raising concerns about the spending cuts after a number spoke out against the measures at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. Some departments are facing cuts of as much as 20 per cent as Ms Reeves scrambles to find £40bn of spending cuts and tax rises before the October 30 Budget.As the row erupted in public, Downing Street warned that government departments and public services would have to become more productive and that public services “will need reform”. Angela Rayner is among those raising concerns about Rachel Reeves’ Budget plans More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseRachel Reeves’ Budget is a make-or-break moment for Sir Keir Starmer’s government, potentially sparking a decade of national renewal – or sowing the seeds of Labour’s downfall.The prime minister’s poll ratings are at rock bottom after just over 100 days in charge, and the much-hyped “tough choices” to be unveiled on October 30 will likely do little to help boost his appeal.As the driving force behind the financial statement, expected to entail £40bn worth of tax hikes and spending cuts, much of the backlash has and will focus on decisions taken by Ms Reeves.Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are facing a backlash against planned Budget cuts More

Starmer refuses to rule out national insurance rise at PMQsYour support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseRachel Reeves will announce Labour’s first Budget in 15 years later this month, leading one of the most highly-anticipated fiscal events in over a decade.As the chancellor looks to fill the £22bn “black hole” in public spending she announced in late July, speculation has mounted about what measures will be included on 30 October. Ahead of the event, ministers have reportedly written directly to the prime minister to ask that proposed spending cuts be softened, bypassing Ms Reeves. It is understood that Number 10 has received complaints from several government departments.During Labour’s first few months in power, ministers have warned that “tough decisions” will be required to balance the books. Sir Keir Starmer has said the event is going to be “painful” but that there is “no other choice given the situation that we’re in.”This likely means tax rises and spending cuts can be expected, with Reeves reportedly looking to raise £40bn. The government has already come under fire for its decision to cut back winter fuel payments for millions of pensions, sparking a row which has hung over its first 100 days in power.We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates ahead of the big event on 30 October here, on The Independent’s liveblog.Show latest update 1729153337Pinned: Ministers plead with PM to soften Reeves’ spending cutsSeveral ministers have reportedly written to Number 10 urging the prime minister to soften departmental spending cuts laid out in the upcoming Budget.The requests have gone over the head of Rachel Reeves, who is reportedly looking to find around £40bn in tax rises and spending cuts on 30 October.It is an embarrassing show of disunity for the prime minister, indicating that ministers and Ms Reeves may not be seeing eye-to-eye on departmental budgets.It’s understood that the complaints have come from the Ministry of Housing, Department for Transport, Ministry of Justice. Unlike health and education, these departments have ‘unprotected’ budgets, meaning they could see severe cuts.One Cabinet minister told Sky News: “The briefing doesn’t match the reality. It’s pain this year, and pain next year. We’re simply going to be digging a hole which we end up filling in later in the year.”Albert Toth17 October 2024 09:221729167627How make-or-break Budget has fractured Keir Starmer’s cabinetRachel Reeves’ Budget is a make-or-break moment for Sir Keir Starmer’s government, potentially sparking a decade of national renewal – or sowing the seeds of Labour’s downfall.The prime minister’s poll ratings are at rock bottom after just over 100 days in charge, and the much-hyped “tough choices” to be unveiled on October 30 will likely do little to help boost his appeal.Albert Toth17 October 2024 13:201729160732Millionaires urge Reeves to raise £14bn from capital gains tax changes at BudgetRachel Reeves should increase capital gains tax (CGT) at Labour’s upcoming Budget, a group of millionaire business owners have urged, estimating the measure would raise £14bn a year.In a report by the IPPR think-tank, analysts have consulted with wealthy entrepreneurs who say higher CGT would not have stopped them from making investments in the UK.Albert Toth17 October 2024 11:251729156492Angela Rayner leads Cabinet revolt against Reeves’ ‘huge’ Budget cutsSir Keir Starmer is facing a backlash from Angela Rayner and his cabinet over “huge” cuts to departmental spending to be unveiled in Rachel Reeves’ Budget.The prime minister has received letters from senior ministers raising concerns about the spending cuts after a number spoke out against the measures at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.Archie Mitchell17 October 2024 10:141729130400Budget rumours: business rates reformIn its election manifesto, Labour said it was committed to reforming the current business rates system “so we can raise the same revenue but in a fairer way”.What this means has not been spelt out by the party, but it said the new system will be designed to “level the playing field between the high street and online giants, better incentivise investment, tackle empty properties and support entrepreneurship”.It’s thought this could take the form of an immediate cut to the rates, while also closing loopholes which allow some firms to avoid tax. This will come as welcome news to smaller business owners, but Labour will be careful to ensure their reform maintains a monetary net zero.Exchequer secretary James Murray MP confirmed this at a Labour conference fringe event hosted by the British Retail Consortium, saying: “It’s within the current envelope. It’s all about raising the same amount of money overall, that’s the commitment.”Albert Toth17 October 2024 03:001729119660ICYMI: Inflation drop ‘badly-timed’ for benefit claimants as next increase revealedInflation has dropped below 2 per cent for the first time in over three years, raising hopes that the Bank will cut interest rates in November. The decrease exceeded many economist predictions, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) falling to 1.7 per centBut some experts have warned that the rate drop is “badly timed” for many people, as it will be a key factor in how much benefits are uprated by the DWP next April.Albert Toth17 October 2024 00:011729108856Budget rumours: fuel Duty increaseFuel duties, or taxes, apply to purchases of petrol, diesel and a variety of other fuels used both for vehicles and domestic heating.The level of fuel duty depends on the type of fuel used, with a litre of petrol, diesel, biodiesel and bioethanol attracting a fuel duty of 52.95p. It was cut by 5p by the Conservatives in 2022, after being frozen at 57.95p since 2011.It represents a significant source of revenue for the government, expected to raise £24.7 billion in 2023-24, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility – equivalent to 2.2 per cent of all receipts.Scrapping the 5p cut would raise the government an estimated £2bn. However, doing so would not automatically force fuel retailers to bring down their costs, likely meaning higher fees for motorists, at least in the short term.Albert Toth16 October 2024 21:001729105256ICYMI: Rachel Reeves boosted by big drop in inflation as she seeks £40bn in Budget tax risesRachel Reeves has been boosted by a sharp drop in inflation as she seeks to find £40bn of tax hikes and spending cuts in this month’s Budget.The chancellor will welcome the dip, which saw inflation fall under the Bank of England’s 2 per cent target for the first time in more than three years, as she prepares for what promises to be a brutal Budget.Albert Toth16 October 2024 20:001729098056Budget rumours: welfare spending cutsLabour has made no secret of its ambition to reduce the government’s welfare spending bill, so Ms Reeves will likely take the Budget as her opportunity to do so.Speaking at Labour’s party conference, the prime minister said: “We will get the welfare bill down because we will tackle long-term sickness and support people back to work.”What has been confirmed is a crackdown on benefit fraud, which looks to save £1.6bn over the next five years. Also possible is the mooted reform to disability benefits through personal independence payments (PIP) or the work capability assessment (WCA).Albert Toth16 October 2024 18:001729094456What would you like to see announced in Rachel Reeves’ budget?We would like to hear your thoughts on what you would like to see introduced in Reeves’ Budget. Should she focus on measures to support homeowners, such as the Freedom to Buy scheme? Or would you prefer a focus on closing tax loopholes, such as abolishing non-dom status, to ensure a fairer tax system?Albert Toth16 October 2024 17:00 More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseMinisters are to crack down on the nurseries charging banned ‘top-up’ fees, warning they prevent parents from using much-needed childcare. In his first newspaper interview since taking the job, education minister Stephen Morgan told The Independent the government would look at “all options” to prevent the practice.The problem was “an issue up and down the country”, he warned.Earlier this year The Independent revealed parents were facing a hike in nursery fees of up to 15 per cent as they pick up the tab left by funding gaps in the Tory flagship scheme to expand free childcare.Parents are facing banned ‘top-up’ fees for nursery care More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseA major new report has proposed turning the Commonwealth into a trade and security bloc and inviting Ukraine to join.Ahead of the biannual Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in Samoa next week, the think tank Policy Exchange has produced a report to revitalise the international club of nations.The report, which has cross-party support in the Commons and has been backed by former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper and Australia’s ex-foreign minister Alexander Downer, comes with exclusive polling revealing public support for the plans.According to the polling, more than three in five (63 per cent) of UK adults believe the Commonwealth should encourage the removal or reduction of barriers to trade between its members.The report recommends giving Prince William a special Commonwealth role More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseA senior MP has accused the former RAF chief air marshal of lying over allegations he had pushed through an illegal recruitment policy for the service.Alicia Kearns, the former chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, used parliamentary privilege in prime minister’s questions (PMQs) to accuse Sir Mike Wigston of lying in the case of the RAF’s former head of recruitment group captain Lizzy Nicholl.Challenging Sir Keir Starmer, Ms Kearns said: “Group Captain Lizzy Nicholl had an exemplary career with the RAF until she was forced to resign for refusing to implement illegal recruitment orders. Despite inquiry after inquiry vindicating Lizzy on every count, the RAF and Ministry of Defence have failed to offer her fair compensation and those responsible have just walked away.Ms Kearns used parliamentary privilege to accuse a former air chief marshall of lying More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseRachel Reeves is being warned that she may have to break Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise income tax or national insurance in order to fill a £40bn black hole in her spending plans.The concerns come after the chancellor warned her cabinet colleagues this week that she needs to find spending cuts and tax rises of £40bn to balance the books – far more than the £22bn she has claimed the Tories left behind.Ms Reeves was boosted on Wednesday by a drop in inflation to 1.7 per cent – the first time in three years it has been under 2 per cent – which means benefit payments will not need to be raised by as much as feared. However, it also means she will not raise as much money as hoped from freezing income tax band thresholds.The conundrum has led to speculation that Ms Reeves will unveil a £25bn tax raid in her Budget on 30 October, while spending on benefits and even international aid, traditionally protected by Labour, are under threat.Keir Starmer and the chancellor must decide how to meet a £40bn black hole More

Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseThe Technology Secretary has said tech companies must ensure child safety is at the forefront of the development of new products, as he criticised the Roblox gaming platform for not protecting its users.Peter Kyle said Ofcom would be telling the US-based gaming platform steps it needed to take to ensure users were protected after US investment firm Hindenburg Research accused it of having lax safety controls which created an “X-rated paedophile hellscape”.Mr Kyle (Hove and Portslade) had been asked what he was doing to protect children using the platform from online predators.Keeping children safe online is the key priority for this Government. The Online Safety Act places strict safety duties on online platforms such as Roblox to protect children from being groomed by online predatorsPeter KyleHe said: “Keeping children safe online is the key priority for this Government. The Online Safety Act places strict safety duties on online platforms such as Roblox to protect children from being groomed by online predators.“Ofcom is the regulator for the regime, and they will set out steps in the codes for the platform to take to fulfil their duties by the end of this year.”Roblox is an online gaming platform where users can create their own games. The majority of players are under 16, and it is used by hundreds of millions of users every month. Chatrooms are available for users, and although it offers parental controls, there are no age restrictions.In a report published last week Hindenburg Research, which is looking to “short” the company’s stock, said: “Our in-game research revealed an X-rated paedophile hellscape, exposing children to grooming, pornography, violent content and extremely abusive speech.”Roblox has rejected the claims made in the Hindenburg report, saying “safety and civility have been foundational” to the company since its inception.The Online Safety Bill, which has passed through parliament, will require platforms to protect children from harmful content. Ofcom will draw up codes of practice that will enforce the legislation, although the guidance will be voluntary.The Online Safety Act and measures that will be coming into force soon are there to directly impact that concern. I want those powers to be used as assertively as possiblePeter KyleLabour MP for Northampton South Mike Reader said one of his constituents was a volunteer moderator on the website. He said his constituent’s group had identified and banned 14,000 accounts involved in child grooming, exploitation and sharing indecent images.Mr Reader said: “Does the Secretary of State agree with me that while we drive for tech innovation and investment, we must keep online safety at the heart of our strategy?”Mr Kyle said: “The Online Safety Act and measures that will be coming into force soon are there to directly impact that concern. I want those powers to be used as assertively as possible.“I have heard just today of another story affecting Roblox. I expect that company to do better to protect the service users, particularly children, on its website.”Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy Labour MP Melanie Ward raised concerns about online safety, as she said the Safer Phones Bill – a private members’ bill due to be presented to the Commons, would help stop young people from being damaged by social media and mobile phone content.Mr Kyle said: “We must keep children safe and vulnerable people safe when they are online. It is my intention to make sure that safety is baked in from the outset. When it comes to keeping children safe in this country everything is on the table, and I am open minded as to how we move forward in order to achieve a much safer environment.“Companies releasing products into our society should see it as a privilege, not a right.”The safety of our community, particularly younger members of our community, is our highest priority, and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to to catch and prevent malicious or harmful activity on our platformRoblox spokesmanA Roblox spokesperson said: “Safety and civility have been foundational to Roblox since our inception nearly two decades ago, and we have invested heavily throughout our history in our trust and safety efforts. Today, 10% of full-time employees and thousands of contractors are focused exclusively on trust and safety.“Every day, tens of millions of people of all ages have a safe and positive experience on Roblox, abiding by our community standards.“The safety of our community, particularly younger members of our community, is our highest priority, and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to catch and prevent malicious or harmful activity on our platform.“These protocols include text chat filters in all supported languages to detect and block inappropriate words and phrases, blocking attempts to direct users under the age of 13 off the platform and preventing the sharing of personal information, such as a phone number or address. We also do not allow user-to-user image sharing on Roblox. For more information about our safety efforts, see our recent blog post.” More