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Shadow chancellor to deliver prestigious Mais lecture and will announce plans to rewire the TreasuryTribune, the long-established paper (now a magazine and website) for the Labour left, is not impressed by Rachel Reeves’ suggestion that Margaret Thatcher delivered a decade of renewal.Rachel Reeves’ claim that Margaret Thatcher ‘delivered a decade of national renewal’ is the latest attempt to justify the suffering caused by her...

In today’s newsletter: As the chancellor presents a plan aimed at satisfying the Tory faithful, we look at what he will do and what it will mean for you• Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning, and strap on your Homer Simpson secret nap spectacles: it’s budget day. Coming into this one, the big question about Jeremy Hunt is this: is...

The chancellor’s biggest giveaway is likely to be a further cut to national insurance contributionsJeremy Hunt is due to set out the government’s plans for tax and spending in his budget on Wednesday. In what is expected to be the last budget before a general election, the chancellor’s biggest giveaway is likely to be a further cut to the national insurance contributions paid by...

The absence of so many potential workers is taking a toll. In a literal sense, this is a sick economyBusiness live – latest updatesOn the face of it, Britain’s labour market is in rude health. Employment rose in the final three months of 2023 and unemployment fell to 3.8%. Earnings, adjusted for inflation, rose for a sixth successive month. All are traditionally signs of...

Surprise uptick to 4.0% complicates forecasts that Bank of England will cut interest ratesAnalysis: inflation rise complicates outlook on interest ratesWhich UK goods and services have changed most in price?UK inflation rose unexpectedly to 4.0% in December in the first increase for 10 months, complicating the timing of interest rate cuts from the Bank of England this year.The Office for National Statistics said annual...

Study of European electoral data suggests social democratic parties alienate supporters by moving towards the political centre Adopting rightwing policies on issues such as immigration and the economy does not help centre-left parties win votes, according to new analysis of European electoral and polling data.Faced with a 20-year decline in their vote share, accompanied by rising support for the right, far right and sometimes...