Rachel Reeves unveiled a £26bn revenue plan, with tax rises aimed at wealthier households and a continued freeze on income tax thresholds. She scrapped the two-child benefit cap and promised help with energy bills, saying everyone must contribute while protecting those most in need.
The chancellor will present a budget to ease the cost of living and restore fiscal stability. It promises help for households, investment to lift growth and productivity, and disciplined borrowing to reassure markets, billed as a decisive reset for the government’s economic plan.
The BBC will overhaul its editorial standards process and create a deputy DG following a bias row. Reforms aim to curb political influence on the standards panel, tighten governance, and improve transparency and accountability to rebuild public trust.
The PM urged Nigel Farage to purge Reform of any ties to a hostile foreign state after disclosures that a former party figure received payments to promote that state. Starmer criticised Farage’s leadership and demanded action; Farage denies wrongdoing and says he will investigate.
An official report says the government’s early pandemic response was delayed and chaotic, citing a toxic No 10 culture, poor preparation and missed meetings by the then PM. It concludes an earlier lockdown could have saved many lives. Bereaved families urge accountability and rapid reform.
The PM urged Nigel Farage to address allegations of racist conduct, including claims of antisemitism from earlier in his life. Calling them “disturbing”, he said Farage should explain himself. Farage’s team disputes the accounts, says he recalls little, and indicates he will respond.
MI5 warned MPs and peers of a suspected influence operation linked to China using LinkedIn to contact parliamentarians and advisers, seeking insights and long-term relationships. Two profiles were highlighted. The Commons and Lords issued alerts to members. Beijing’s embassy rejected the claims.
Labour MPs are challenging the PM over plans to toughen asylum rules proposed by home secretary Shabana Mahmood, including curbs on appeals and powers to seize assets from repeat offenders. Critics say the approach risks eroding ECHR protections; No 10 insists it is firm but fair.
Shabana Mahmood will set out sweeping reforms to the asylum system, promising tougher rules, faster decisions and an overhaul of appeals and family-life claims. Ministers say the shake-up will restore control; charities and some Labour MPs warn it could erode protections and repeat past injustices.
