The Latest Breaking News from Budget

COMMENT: The chancellor’s fiscal headroom is already compromised by her commitment to tackle child poverty, writes Sean O’Grady. So she needs luck – and to be more boring than ever – to raise the revenue she desperately needs

Democrats questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over the effect of Republicans’ “big, beautiful” reconciliation bill on the debt. 

THE INDEPENDENT VIEW: Editorial: The chancellor has to balance the competing demands of ministers in her spending review but must make sure she keeps Britain’s finances on a secure footing

COMMENT: John Rentoul says Sir Keir Starmer is guilty of Trussonomics, albeit on a smaller scale, making promises without knowing how to pay for them – hoping that the chancellor can sort it out later

COMMENT: In a key speech in Rochdale, the chancellor stuck to Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance for employees and VAT, saying she had ‘absolutely no intention’ of repeating the £40bn tax hike in her first Budget. Her words may well come back to haunt her,…

Mr Charlesworth, 78, who went by his middle name Philip, was found dead by his son Jonathan Charlesworth, 47, in a barn on their farm.

Exclusive: Call from former Treasury minister Jim O’Neill will pile pressure on chancellor and PM amid demands for hat-trick of U-turns on winter fuel allowance, two-child benefit cap and disability payments

INSIDE WESTMINSTER: Far from defusing the growing unrest within his party, the prime minister’s U-turn has emboldened backbenchers to demand even more sweeteners, says Andrew Grice

Cross-party MEPs demand a complete cut of funds for Hungary, claiming it regressing alarmingly. The European Commission is willing to discuss the use of the budget tool to preserve democracy.

Rising energy, water, and travel costs have pushed UK inflation to 3.5%, sparking fears of a deepening cost-of-living crisis. Will relief come before budgets buckle?

MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly backed the 2025-26 Budget following a lengthy debate on Monday.