An investment plan is facing disruption after a minister’s critical remarks about a shipping company involved in an infrastructure project, causing potential challenges for upcoming discussions.

A proposed new law in the UK aims to make it easier for unions to raise funds for the Labour Party by granting them greater powers in the workplace, potentially increasing membership dues and providing unions with a larger role in industrial negotiations.

Economists have calculated that to avoid a return to austerity, the government will need to raise an additional £25 billion annually, following Rachel Reeves’ commitment to not increase day-to-day spending.

Immigration has led to a record increase in the UK population, reaching 68.2 million despite deaths outnumbering births, due to the highest level of net migration in decades.