UK

The chancellor cannot rule out more tax rises in the next five years, despite raising the burden to its highest level since comparable records began. Speaking to Sky News following Labour’s first fiscal event since 2010, Rachel Reeves said it would be “irresponsible” to promise there will not be further tax rises. However, she suggested

The budget will increase taxes by £40bn, with the lion’s share coming from a £25bn rise in employers’ national insurance contributions, the chancellor has announced at the budget. The rise is bigger than predicted but Rachel Reeves added there would be measures to protect small businesses from the change. Ms Reeves, who said she was

As mother-of-three Danielle pushes two prams down the street in south London, her only thought is where will they all sleep tonight? The 21-year-old, whose children are all under the age of five, had a council house in Southwark but had to move out because she faced threats of violence. “I didn’t know that going

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will promise to “invest, invest, invest” in Labour’s first budget for 15 years. Ms Reeves – who is set to stand up in the Commons just after 12.30pm on Wednesday – will also give a pledge that “working people won’t face higher taxes in their payslips”. However, she will clarify that Labour’s

Former Conservative MP Aaron Bell carried out “brazen and drunken” sexual misconduct in the parliament bar, a watchdog has found. The former MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme “abused his position of power” by touching a woman “on her left thigh, waist and bottom inappropriately and without her consent” while in one of parliament’s bars in December 2023,

The budget will deliver billions of pounds of new funding for the NHS to unlock two million extra appointments a year, the government has announced. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is expected to unveil £1.5bn for new surgical hubs and scanners alongside £70m for radiotherapy machines. An additional £1.8bn will also be put towards elective appointments

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has admitted contempt of court after he repeated false allegations about a Syrian refugee schoolboy in breach of an injunction. The 41-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, admitted at Woolwich Crown Court to breaching an injunction made after he was successfully sued for libel in 2021. Those who commit contempt

New CCTV footage shows Labour MP Mike Amesbury punching a man in the street. The new video, obtained by MailOnline, shows the MP for Runcorn and Helsby punching a man, who fell to the floor, before then hitting him repeatedly. It came after earlier footage, which circulated on social media on Saturday, showed Mr Amesbury

Sir Keir Starmer has denied misleading the public in the general election after hinting at tax rises for those who own shares and assets. Labour’s election-winning manifesto promised it would not “increase taxes on working people” – but it was not made clear who exactly who is considered a “working person”. Asked by Sky News’

More migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year than in the whole of 2023, Home Office figures show. It comes after 424 people crossed the Channel yesterday, taking the 2024 total up to now to 29,578. In 2023, a total of 29,437 migrants made the perilous crossing. In 2022, 45,728

The King is set to return to a full overseas tour schedule next year. Buckingham Palace has announced that it is planning a full overseas tour schedule for the King next year, despite his ongoing cancer treatment. Speaking at the conclusion of the King and Queen’s nine-day visit to Australia and Samoa, a senior palace

The amount employers pay in national insurance is set to rise in next week’s budget to raise money for public services, Sky News understands. Reports have suggested it could be increased by up to two percentage points and will – in part – be used to help fund the NHS. A government source told Sky

An online predator whose abuse led an American girl and her father to take their own lives has been jailed for at least 20 years after the UK’s largest ‘catfishing’ case. Warning: This article contains references to suicide and child sex abuse which readers may find distressing. Alexander McCartney, 26, previously admitted 185 charges, including

Sir Keir Starmer has hinted at possible tax rises for those who own shares and assets, saying they do not fit his definition of “working people”. The prime minister was asked to share his definition of a “working” person after Labour’s election-winning manifesto promised “not increase taxes on working people” – but who exactly that

Lucy Letby’s bid to appeal a conviction for the attempted murder of a baby girl has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The convicted child serial killer asked senior judges for approval to challenge her most recent conviction for trying to kill the newborn, known as Child K, following a retrial in July, for

Folkestone has been drawing in crowds in recent years with regeneration and private developments transforming parts of this port town on the Kent coast. But many residents will tell you that the fabric of this community is being torn apart. Local services are deteriorating and have been for some time. Leisure centres have shut down