Government told migrant partners are a drag on UK finances June 10, 2025 UK government ministers have been warned that migrants who arrive on partner and family visas are likelier to have a negative impact on public finances and essential services, including the NHS. The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has told the government that the vast majority of people on partner visas will be “fiscally negative” over [...]
Spending Review: Cuts to BBC put UK soft power at risk June 10, 2025 Spending review cuts to the BBC would erode the UK's soft power when it needs it most, writes Giles Kenningham.
Fresh blow for Rachel Reeves as voters scorn growth plans June 10, 2025 A dwindling number of Brits have confidence that the government can deliver on its plans for economic growth, fresh polling has found, laying bare the scale of Rachel Reeves’ challenge to restore voter trust as she prepares to unveil the Spending Review on Wednesday. Just 22 per cent of Brits have some confidence in the [...]
Reeves’ central mission is in tatters June 10, 2025 The Chancellor is the least popular person in British politics and this week’s Spending Review is unlikely to turn things around for Rachel Reeves, says Matthew Lesh This month’s City AM / Freshwater Strategy Poll lays bare the Chancellor’s precarious position ahead of this week’s spending review. Rachel Reeves is personally the least popular figure in British [...]
London ‘left out’ of Reeves’ spending review June 9, 2025 London will find itself low on the chancellor’s agenda in the upcoming spending review, reports suggest. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been lobbying for extending the DLR to Thamesmead, and the Bakerloo line to Lewisham. However, getting the requisite funding to grow the transport system is looking unlikely. Bringing the Bakerloo line further south is anticipated [...]
Reeves should use the Spending Review to make pay conditional on performance June 9, 2025 If the public sector had matched the productivity improvements of the private sector over the last 15 years or so, Keir Starmer would have £100bn more to spend this year. Instead of reheated policies, it’s time for real reform, says Tim Knox Keir Starmer, to his credit, has been making the right diagnosis. Six months [...]
Spending Review: Biggest winners and losers in transport and infrastructure June 9, 2025 Rachel Reeves is set to unveil billions of pounds of investment this week in the spending review, as she looks to fend off criticism over recent cuts. This has made transport and infrastructure one of the big winners of Wednesday’s official announcement. Some £15bn has already been earmarked for public transport projects outside London in [...]
This is what London needs in the spending review June 9, 2025 We need radical action if we’re going to hit the target of building 88,000 homes a year, more powers for the Mayor and improvements to productivity to get London out of the cycle of spending cuts and tax rises, says John Dickie In less than a week, the Chancellor will fire the starting gun on [...]
Cut net zero and welfare spending instead of police budget, Tory MP blasts June 8, 2025 The shadow home secretary has slammed the Labour government amid mounting speculation police budgets are on the chopping block in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review. Chris Philp told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg he believes police funding should be protected from cuts following concerns of a shrinking workforce. “I think I’m very concerned that [...]
Reeves mulls taxpayer-funded subsidy to cut manufacturers’ energy costs June 8, 2025 Rachel Reeves is looking at plans for a £1bn taxpayer-funded annual subsidy to bring down the energy costs for manufacturers after warnings the UK faced “rapid deindustrialisation” without intervention. The Chancellor is facing mounting pressure to lower energy costs for industry with fears high prices are holding back investment opportunities and stifling the country’s competitiveness. [...]