Chancellor makes assertion to MPs within the Home of Commons.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce new measures within the Home of Commons (Picture: PARLIAMENT TV)
Rachel Reeves got here underneath hearth within the Commons immediately after Labour deserted a deliberate gas responsibility hike.
The Chancellor confirmed the U-turn in a press release to MPs on measures to ease cost-of-living pressures amid the Iran warfare.
However shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride mentioned: “It was all the time apparent that the gas responsibility improve would must be cancelled. Apparent to everybody besides the Chancellor. So can I ask, why did the Chancellor struggle us on hell-bent for therefore lengthy? Why has she been so hell-bent on elevating gas responsibility throughout an vitality disaster? Effectively, inevitably, the U-turn has lastly come.”
He added: “As soon as once more we’ve a weak Authorities caving in to the inevitable after spending months defending a really horrible resolution.”
week in the past13:56 Aaron Newbury
Chancellor’s value of residing plan branded ‘a sticking plaster’
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has seen her value of residing plan panned by campaigners with one group calling it a “sticking plaster from the chancellor whose personal insurance policies have made life dearer within the first place.”
John O’Connell, chief government of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, mentioned: “Whereas slicing VAT on summer season sights and suspending the gas responsibility hike is welcome, it comes after Labour piled extra prices onto employers by means of larger nationwide insurance coverage contributions and recklessly pursued the web zero agenda.
If Reeves genuinely desires to enhance the price of residing, she ought to begin by reducing Britain’s crushing tax burden.”
(Picture: Getty)
The TaxPayers’ Alliance accused Rachel Reeves of “little greater than a sticking plaster” after her value of residing announcement.
The group’s chief government John O’Connell mentioned: “Taxpayers will see proper by means of this so-called ‘value of residing’ plan as little greater than a sticking plaster from the chancellor whose personal insurance policies have made life dearer within the first place.
“Whereas slicing VAT on summer season sights and suspending the gas responsibility hike is welcome, it comes after Labour piled extra prices onto employers by means of larger nationwide insurance coverage contributions and recklessly pursued the web zero agenda.
“If Reeves genuinely desires to enhance the price of residing, she ought to begin by reducing Britain’s crushing tax burden.
week in the past13:47 Aaron Newbury
Tories warn Labour planning one other Vacation Tax
The Conservative Social gathering has warned that holidaymakers “ought to brace” as a result of Labour is “on the brink of hit travellers with one more Vacation Tax.”
Shadow Transport Secretary, Richard Holden MP mentioned: “Air Passenger Obligation (APD) will drive up flight prices and harm the airline business simply as we face rising vitality and gas prices.
“Rachel Reeves has blown a black gap within the public funds and now she’s raiding the runway to fill it. Each household flight, each summer season getaway, will value extra as a result of Labour doesn’t have the spine to cease spending.
“Brits already pay among the highest flight taxes in Europe, however Labour’s plans will ship costs sky-high. Odd households are being punished so Starmer and Reeves can paper over their financial catastrophe.”
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week in the past13:24 Katie Harris
Jenrick urges Reeves to not hike taxes
Robert Jenrick referred to as on Rachel Reeves to decide to not rising taxes on working folks for the remainder of this parliament.
Reform UK’s treasury spokesman mentioned: “Isn’t the very best answer to construct a powerful, ample financial system by doing the exhausting yards of provide facet reforms, the place there are higher jobs and better wages, the place individuals are richer and the state has much less bearing on their lives?
“And but underneath the Chancellor the advantages invoice is ballooning, unemployment is rising, notably amongst the younger, and taxes are at their highest ever stage.
“So, within the spirit of giving folks some aid immediately, will the Chancellor affirm that, assuming she intends to remain in workplace for the remainder of this Parliament, she received’t be rising taxes on working folks in any respect for the remainder of this parliament.”
week in the past13:07 Katie Harris
Reeves defends gas responsibility U-turn
Rachel Reeves hit again at Sir Mel Stride after he criticised the time it took for her to desert the deliberate gas responsibility rise.
The Chancellor mentioned: “I’ve all the time mentioned, because the Center East battle started, that I’d regulate what was occurring to grease and gasoline costs and set out plans forward of the change because of come into impact in September, and that’s precisely what I’ve completed.
“I’ve additionally gone additional in three particular areas, with further help for hauliers, further help for purple diesel, notably serving to the rail, freight business and farmers, and the upper mileage charges.”
week in the past13:05 Katie Harris
‘The U-turn has lastly come’ – Tories
Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride mentioned the “U-turn has lastly come” after Rachel Reeves introduced a delay to the rise in gas responsibility.
Responding to the Chancellor’s assertion within the Commons, Sir Mel mentioned: “It was all the time apparent that the gas responsibility improve would must be cancelled. Apparent to everybody besides the Chancellor.
“So can I ask, why did the Chancellor struggle us on gas responsibility for therefore lengthy? Why has she been so hell-bent on elevating gas responsibility throughout an vitality disaster? Effectively, inevitably, the U-turn has lastly come.”
He took intention at Ms Reeves’s claims on the financial system. He mentioned development was nonetheless down from the 1.3% the Worldwide Financial Fund was predicting earlier than April. He mentioned the Authorities was borrowing extra, and mentioned inflation was the best within the G7, and likened Ms Reeves’ assertion to when she dropped the cuts to the winter gas allowance.
Sir Mel added: “No one purchased it then, and no person is shopping for it now. As soon as once more we’ve a weak Authorities caving in to the inevitable after spending months defending a really horrible resolution.”
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride (Picture: PARLIAMENT TV) week in the past13:03 Katie Harris
Reeves’s plan to value round £300m
Rachel Reeves’ “Nice British Summer season Financial savings” scheme is estimated to value round £300 million, the Treasury mentioned.
Closing costings for all of the measures can be detailed on the subsequent price range following scoring from the Workplace for Price range Duty, the division mentioned.
It mentioned the Authorities expects companies to cross on VAT financial savings from the minimize from 20% to five% on summer season actions to prospects.
HMRC has revealed steering for companies on the way to function the scheme.
Rachel Reeves mentioned she anticipated supermarkets to cross on financial savings from diminished tariffs to their prospects “in full”.
The Chancellor informed MPs: “I do know the price of the weekly store is usually one of many largest worries for households, so final month I met with supermarkets to induce them to do all they will to maintain costs low.
“And immediately I’m taking motion by suspending tariffs on over 100 totally different meals offered in supermarkets.
“And I’m clear that I anticipate supermarkets to cross these financial savings on in full to their prospects.”
She added: “I cannot tolerate any firm exploiting the present scenario to make extra income at shoppers’ expense, so I’m bringing ahead robust new powers in order that the Competitors and Markets Authority and different regulators can take motion when corporations break the foundations.”
week in the past12:44 Katie Harris
Help for ceramics and chemical compounds
Rachel Reeves mentioned the Authorities is “establishing a £350 million crucial chemical compounds resilience fund to help strategically vital producers”.
The Chancellor additionally informed the Commons: “I’m immediately asserting a brand new £120 million fund to assist our historic ceramics sector, serving to them to extend effectivity and drive down vitality prices, as a result of we’ll all the time arise for British business and for British jobs.”
week in the past12:32 Katie Harris
VAT on summer season sights slashed
Rachel Reeves has introduced a short lived minimize within the fee of VAT on summer season sights from 20% to five% over the summer season holidays.
She informed the Commons: “This may apply to ticket costs for each adults and kids, overlaying sights reminiscent of festivals, theme parks, zoos and museums.
“It’ll embody youngsters’s tickets for cinemas, concert events, delicate play, and the theatre, and it’ll minimize the price of youngsters’s meals in eating places and cafes from 20% VAT to five% as effectively.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has introduced a 10p per mile improve in tax-free mileage charges backdated to April 2026 and a 12-month highway tax vacation for heavy items autos (HGVs).
She informed the Commons: “For hauliers, the Authorities is granting a 12-month highway tax vacation for HGVs, saving the standard heavy lorry as much as £912.
“To help farmers and the rail freight business, I’ve determined to chop responsibility on purple diesel by over a 3rd till the top of this yr.
“And having heard from (Labour former minister Jim McMahon) and the commerce union Unison, I can immediately announce a 10p per mile improve in tax-free mileage charges backdated to April 2026 benefiting those that have to drive for work, from care staff to plumbers.”
week in the past12:23 Katie Harris
Reeves now up
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is now making a press release to the Home of Commons with measures to ease the price of residing amid the Iran warfare.
The Chancellor speaks within the Commons (Picture: PARLIAMENT TV) week in the past12:15 Katie Harris
Braverman clashes with Cleverly over migration
Reform UK MP Suella Braverman hit again at Tory frontbencher James Cleverly on X in a row over a drop in internet migration.
Thanks for declaring the timeline James.
Anybody who understands the system is aware of that there’s a time lag between asserting measures to chop migration and the precise discount in internet migration.
It exhibits that the consequences of the modifications that I introduced into drive in Could 2023u2026 https://t.co/KElX1RxZ6f
u2014 Suella Braverman (@SuellaBraverman) Could 21, 2026
week in the past11:37 Katie Harris
Late Queen was ‘very eager’ Andrew had ‘distinguished function’ selling UK pursuits
The late Queen was “very eager” for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to tackle a “distinguished function within the promotion of nationwide pursuits”, a senior official informed the then-foreign secretary earlier than he was appointed commerce envoy in 2001.
In a memo addressed to Robin Cook dinner dated February 25 2000, then-chief government of British Commerce Worldwide Sir David Wright mentioned Queen Elizabeth II’s “want” had been for Andrew, then the Duke of York, to tackle the job.
The memo has been launched as a part of a trove of recordsdata associated to Andrew’s appointment to the submit, which gave him entry to senior authorities and enterprise contacts around the globe.
Queen Elizabeth II (Picture: Getty) week in the past11:24 Katie Harris
Tories blast Labour over migrant lodging
Shadow Residence Secretary Chris Philp mentioned: “Practically 100,000 folks at the moment are in asylum lodging, and Labour’s reply is to maneuver them out of lodges disguise them in residential streets.
“Labour needs to be deporting all unlawful immigrants, however they merely don’t have the spine to do.
“Lots of the 93% which are allowed to remain by this Authorities go onto commit critical crimes, together with homicide, rape, and the sexual assault of younger ladies. This case is a shame.
“Solely the Conservative Social gathering have a transparent plan to sort out immigration and escape this insanity. Our BORDERS Plan will depart the ECHR and ECAT, ban asylum and different safety claims for unlawful entrants, set up our removals drive, improve the variety of deportations to 150,000 a yr, and finish the merry-go-round of appeals.”
week in the past11:23 Katie Harris
Greater than 60,000 migrants residing in homes, flats and bedsits
The variety of migrants residing in lodges has fallen as Labour strikes extra asylum seekers into communities throughout Britain.
However bombshell figures present a staggering 68,719 at the moment are residing in homes, flats and bedsits – together with giant HMOs – in communities throughout the nation.
Residence Secretary Shabana Mahmood has vowed to shut each migrant resort by the subsequent Common Election.
Sir Keir Starmer mentioned his Authorities is “delivering” after new figures confirmed UK internet migration had dropped.
In a submit on X, the Prime Minister mentioned: “I promised to revive management to our borders. My authorities is delivering.
“I do know there’s extra to do, we’re introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends our reliance on low-cost abroad staff.”
Web migration has fallen 82%.
I promised to revive management to our borders. My authorities is delivering.
I do know thereu2019s extra to do, weu2019re introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends our reliance on low-cost abroad staff.
u2014 Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) Could 21, 2026
week in the past10:17 Katie Harris
Tories name for Labour to go additional on migration
Shadow Residence Secretary Chris Philp mentioned: “Brits are leaving on an enormous scale and non-EU immigration stays far too excessive. Mass immigration undermines our society and low wage immigration is unhealthy for the financial system. British households really feel it in decrease wages, longer ready lists for public providers and housing shortages.
“Labour should go additional and reform indefinite depart to stay earlier than their hard-left flank forces them to desert it altogether.
“The following Conservative Authorities will introduce a binding annual immigration cap at a really low stage, shut the loopholes that allow momentary visa holders keep indefinitely and tighten and lengthen the circumstances for ILR.
“We would like a small variety of extremely expert migrants and no low-skilled migration in any respect. However sadly, Labour shouldn’t have the spine to do any of it.”
week in the past10:17 Katie Harris
‘We should restore order and management to our borders’ – Mahmood
Residence Secretary Shabana Mahmood mentioned: “Web migration has fallen by 82% in simply three years.
“We are going to all the time welcome those that contribute to this nation and want to construct a greater life right here. However we should restore order and management to our borders.
“As these statistics present, actual progress has been made, however there may be nonetheless work to do. That’s the reason I’m introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends Britain’s reliance on low-cost abroad staff.”
Web migration to the UK stood at an estimated 171,000 within the yr to December 2025, down practically a half (48%) from 331,000 within the earlier 12 months, in line with new figures from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS).
It’s the lowest determine since early 2021, when the post-Brexit immigration system was launched and Covid-19 journey restrictions have been nonetheless in place.
Web migration is the distinction between the variety of folks shifting long-term to the UK and the variety of folks leaving the nation.
An estimated 813,000 folks immigrated to the UK within the yr to June whereas 642,000 emigrated.
The continued fall in internet migration is being pushed by fewer folks from exterior the EU arriving within the UK for work, the ONS mentioned.
week in the past09:32 Katie Harris
Tories blast Streeting over wealth tax pledge
The Conservatives accused Wes Streeting of “naive sixth type political nonsense” after he promised to herald a wealth tax if he turns into the subsequent Labour chief.
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake mentioned: “What you don’t perceive, Wes Streeting – is that your cleaner’s landlord is taking a danger with their cash. Identical to each entrepreneur, businessperson, and investor does.
“In the event you improve taxes on danger takers there’ll be fewer entrepreneurs, fewer dangers taken, fewer jobs created, decrease development, much less tax collected from wealth creators, which is able to then shift the tax burden again onto your cleaner.
“It’s naive sixth type political nonsense, which simply goes to point out that it’s not simply Starmer that’s the issue, it’s the entire Labour motion that basically doesn’t have a clue how the system truly works.”
week in the past09:07 Aaron Newbury
Categorical asks Burnham about Brexit
Wannabe Prime Minister and Mayor of Better Manchester Andy Burnham has run away from the Every day Categorical after we challenged him over Brexit.
He refused to reply questions this morning when requested if he nonetheless wished to rejoin the EU.
Mr Burnham additionally failed to provide a solution when requested why he had determined to not speak about Brexit, regardless of working for a seat that voted to depart.
Andy Burnham refuses to reply Brexit query while on his morning jog
week in the past08:38 Katie Harris
Reeves to make Commons assertion
Customers may save on the price of biscuits and chocolate as a part of a bundle of measures being set out by Rachel Reeves within the Commons immediately to sort out cost-of-living fears triggered by the Iran warfare.
The Authorities is slicing import tariffs on greater than 100 kinds of product in a transfer that’s anticipated to avoid wasting shoppers greater than £150 million a yr.
The Chancellor additionally set out a “Nice British Summer season Financial savings” scheme, together with free bus journey for kids in England throughout the faculty holidays in August.
week in the past07:56 Katie Harris
Greens announce by-election candidate
The Inexperienced Social gathering has introduced nurse Chris Kennedy as its candidate for the Makerfield by-election.
Mr Kennedy, who’s a youngsters’s safeguarding specialist, mentioned he was “proud” to have been elected to face within the high-stakes contest by means of a poll of native members following a hustings.
He mentioned: “We need to defend our space in opposition to the politics of hate and division and produce folks collectively round a optimistic imaginative and prescient for the long run.
“On the similar time, we are able to’t let this election be dominated by a Westminster psychodrama. It should be about defending what makes Makerfield particular. Individuals listed here are feeling the strain of the cost-of-living disaster, they usually deserve actual help.
“Greens will struggle for hotter properties, decrease payments, and a fairer financial system. And we’ll all the time arise for our NHS, correctly funded, publicly owned, and there for everybody after they want it.”
week in the past07:42 Katie Harris
Streeting denies he may again Burnham
A spokesperson for Wes Streeting has denied claims he may drop his management bid and again Andy Burnham if the Better Manchester Mayor wins the Makerfield by-election.
The Occasions quoted unnamed allies of the previous well being secretary saying he would row behind Mr Burnham.
However his spokesperson mentioned: “Wes couldn’t have been clearer: he desires Andy to win Makerfield, desires him within the battle of concepts we’d like in Labour, and Wes can be a candidate within the coming contest.”
Wes Streeting has pledged to introduce a wealth tax if he’s elected Labour chief.
The previous well being secretary mentioned he would equalise capital positive aspects tax with revenue tax which means larger or further fee taxpayers would pay 40 or 45% quite than the present 24%.
He mentioned: “A member of my household is a cleaner in Lancashire. She pays the next tax fee on her wage than her landlord pays for the rising worth of the house she lives in.
“She slogs her guts out, he places in far much less effort, but the state rewards him greater than her. And we surprise why individuals are offended.
“The system is penalising work. It’s not truthful and it’s unhealthy for our financial system. We’d like a wealth tax that works.
“A pound made out of merely proudly owning belongings shouldn’t be taxed lower than a pound made out of a tough day’s work.”
The plan may elevate as much as £12 billion a yr, he mentioned, pointing to calculations by the Centre for the Evaluation of Taxation.
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