Labour is in denial about the economy October 2, 2025 The recent Labour conference as an exercise in denial, revealing a party plagued by internal divisions and lacking a coherent economic plan, says Helen Thomas As the Labour conference drew to a close, one word dominated the mood: denial. Denial of the scale of Britain’s economic challenges. Denial of the fault lines within the party [...]
The Debate: Will digital ID actually erode our civil liberties? October 1, 2025 Will Starmer's plan for digital ID actually erode our civil liberties? We put two experts head to head in this week's Debate.
Taxing gambling is a desperate cash grab that Labour will regret October 1, 2025 Long a scapegoat whenever the Treasury needs quick cash, Labour will regret taxing the gambling industry, writes Oliver Dean.
What should Labour supporters make of a conference dominated by Reform? October 1, 2025 Keir Starmer wants to frame the choice facing Britain as one between decency and division, but will a restless electorate anxious to see results let him? Asks Douglas Beattie There are three types of party conference – the dreary, the victorious and the tense. The first of these often emerges after a long period in [...]
Keir Starmer is dangerously deluded October 1, 2025 The prime minister may have insisted yesterday that wealth creation is “the defining mission of this government” but it certainly wasn’t the defining mission of his speech to the Labour party conference. There were roughly 7,000 words in Keir Starmer’s address to party members in Liverpool, with “business” being uttered just four times – and [...]
Keir Starmer ramps up attack on Reform in vow to ‘renew Britain’ September 30, 2025 Prime Minister Keir Starmer ramped up his attacks on Reform as he called for Brits to unite behind the government’s mission to “renew” the country. In a make or break speech to Labour Party members, Starmer said the country was at a crossroads moment to deliver “renewal” – though he pushed back against claims Britain [...]
Peter Kyle: We will get rid of 25 per cent of regulation September 30, 2025 Business secretary Peter Kyle said there were “absurdities” across regulatory bodies for businesses as he vowed to cut burdens by 25 per cent. In a fringe event at the Labour party conference, Kyle struck a bold tone on the extent of red tape holding the UK economy back, adding that he was asked by Keir [...]
Business sentiment sours as firms brace for tax hikes September 30, 2025 Business sentiment slumped in September as firms were braced for a fresh round of tax hikes in the autumn Budget. Private sector confidence slipped from 54 per cent to 42 per cent, according to the Lloyds Business Barometer survey, data which is typically seen as more cheery than rival surveys. Economic optimism edged down for [...]
UK economy stalls in second quarter September 30, 2025 The UK economy grew at a sluggish pace of 0.3 per cent in the second quarter of the year, official data has shown, another major setback for Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ as she hopes to oversee higher growth. The Office for National Statistics left its growth figure unchanged from a previous estimate as it confirmed its [...]
Rachel Reeves was overshadowed by her future self September 30, 2025 The Chancellor’s speech yesterday was overshadowed by one she hasn’t yet delivered; that’ll be the Budget, on 26 November. The whole country knows that the November Budget is going to be painful, one way or another, and its inevitable constraints (in fact, just the timing of it) meant that Reeves wasn’t able to say much [...]
