Starmer scrambles to limit fuel shortage hit May 20, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has spelt out a number of policies to address fuel shortages, signalling the government’s fears that the Iran war could hit motorists and households. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer defended an announcement last year to “phase” new sanctions on Russia, while also trailing a policy to freeze a 5p fuel duty cut [...]
Reeves to protect energy and infrastructure projects from court challenges May 20, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is drawing up reforms to give parliament the power to insulate essential energy and infrastructure projects from court challenges. The government is expected to put forward plans to keep the projects safe from judicial review. “For too long, vital infrastructure delivery has been delayed by judicial reviews of projects,” a Treasury spokesperson [...]
Andy Burnham refuses rule out manifesto-busting tax hikes May 20, 2026 Andy Burnham has refused to commit himself to protecting Labour Party manifesto commitments to not raise taxes. Burnham, who is Labour’s candidate in an upcoming by-election in Makerfield, declined to comment on whether he supported the party’s 2024 election manifesto. The Manchester mayor appears to be on a path towards becoming Prime Minister, sharing clips [...]
Starmer eases sanctions on Russian oil despite calls to ramp up North Sea drilling May 20, 2026 Keir Starmer is to allow Russian imports of diesel and jet fuel in a major softening of what has been a hardline stance towards Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A licence issued on Wednesday will allow such products to enter the UK “indefinitely”, as long as the oil has been refined in [...]
Inflation drops as Labour subsidies delay price surge May 20, 2026 Inflation dropped slightly compared to the result in the month before as Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget policies stalled an expected surge in price growth. The Office for National Statistics revealed that the consumer price index (CPI) reading was 2.8 per cent, lower than expected by City forecasters. The data for price growth in the year [...]
Brits aren’t spending enough – time for Splash Out to Help Out May 20, 2026 Household debt has declined and people have stopped spending on productive things like home improvements but also in leisure. That’s bad news for the public finances, so the government should look at ways to incentivise spending, says Tim Sarson Brits have stopped spending. After the great financial crisis in 2008 we collectively decided to zip [...]
My generation has only known political chaos May 20, 2026 Not since Tony Blair has Britain had a political leader who was able to win a general election and actually enact major policy change. Which means that for people of my generation and younger, our entire adult lives have been lived under governments who couldn’t actually govern, says Emma Revell Here we go again. After a [...]
America wants what Britain does best: Creativity May 20, 2026 From where I’m standing in LA, “Made in Britain” isn’t a weakness. It’s a selling point. We've got to talk up our creative industries more.
Conservatives have the right diagnosis, but can they cure Britain’s ailments? May 20, 2026 Mel Stride has set out his vision for the economic future of the UK, Matthew Bowles gives his analysis Westminster has spent much of the past week discussing the emergence of a supposed “Burnham premium” on British borrowing costs – the suggestion being that the mere prospect of Andy Burnham returning to national politics could [...]
Are we in the calm before the economic storm? May 20, 2026 There is a palpable sense of being in the calm before the storm. Thanks to the backward-looking nature of most economic data releases, we’re being fed glimpses of the gathering gloom. The latest GDP growth data from the ONS covered Q1 and came in at a respectable 0.6 per cent. However, it has been widely [...]