Rayner says she has been cleared by HMRC in fresh Labour leader twist Politics Angela Rayner has said she was cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs, which is set to shake up a divided Labour Party just as Sir Keir Starmer‘s leadership seemed poised to fall apart. Rayner said that she settled a case of unpaid stamp duty and added that she had been [...]
UK economy enjoyed surprise growth in March despite Iran war Economics The UK economy’s momentum continued as growth was higher than expected in March, official figures have shown, in what may precede months of expected gloom. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that GDP growth was 0.3 per cent in March. This contributed to overall growth of 0.6 per cent in the first quarter. The [...]
The King’s Speech was overshadowed by the Westminster clown show Politics Put the current political chaos from your mind for a moment and imagine that Keir Starmer wasn’t under threat. Imagine a version of the Prime Minister – still unpopular and still struggling to engineer economic growth – but at least with the full backing of his cabinet and MPs. Under such circumstances, yesterday’s King’s Speech [...]
Starmer to face challenge from Streeting May 13, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer is set to face an imminent leadership challenge from health secretary Wes Streeting, according to reports, as Labour’s infighting explodes into open war. The Prime Minister attempted to use the King’s Speech – setting out his legislative agenda for the year ahead – to regain the initiative, promising “radical change.” But minutes [...]
Farage to face probe on £5m gift from Harborne May 13, 2026 Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is set to be investigated by the parliamentary standards committee after he received a £5m donation from Thai-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before being elected as an MP. Farage will be probed on whether he broke a code of conduct for MPs on failing to declare the large gift [...]
Labour leadership turmoil to cost Reeves up to £12bn May 13, 2026 Labour’s political infighting could cost Chancellor Rachel Reeves up to £12bn, analysis by a Wall Street bank has suggested. Hot-tempered bond markets and stunted growth – a consequence of further political instability – would knock around £12bn off the Chancellor’s fiscal headroom, Goldman Sachs warned. While the £12bn hit to public finances would not erase [...]
Why the battle for Labour’s future could prove to be very expensive May 13, 2026 Amid the farce and drama, spare a thought for His Majesty, who will today sit on the throne in the House of Lords and read out details of Keir Starmer’s legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary term. The monarch may be above politics, but not so far above that he won’t see the absurdity of [...]
Starmer leadership under threat ahead of awkward King’s Speech May 13, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership hung by a thread last night as he refused to leave Downing Street despite multiple ministerial resignations and a growing number of backbenchers calling for his removal. In a chaotic day of political warfare and Labour infighting, Starmer resisted being dragged out of Number 10 as he challenged Cabinet ministers and [...]
Going for growth? Labour groups set out competing visions for economic strategy May 12, 2026 Competing groups of Labour MPs have published contrasting growth plans on Tuesday, just as Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership stood on the brink. Both the left-wing Tribune group of MPs and the more centrist Labour Growth Group published pamphlets setting out a number of ideas for growth and tax reform. Tribune’s report, led by former transport [...]
‘Bond market meltdown’: UK borrowing costs highest since 1998 as Starmer fights for survival May 12, 2026 Warnings of a “bond market meltdown” flashed through the City on Tuesday after government borrowing costs soared as pressure mounted on Sir Keir Starmer’s future in Downing Street. For weeks, City investors have been on high alert as fears mounted that a mass rebellion would be triggered after devastating local election results. Traders fear the [...]