Rachel Reeves says those with broadest shoulders should pay fair share of tax

Rachel Reeves has said those with the “broadest shoulders” should pay their “fair share” into the exchequer as she prepares to raise taxes in next month’s budget.The chancellor is expected to deliver a package of tax increases and spending cuts on 26 November to meet her fiscal rules in the face of deteriorating forecasts from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).Speaking in Washington DC, where she was attending the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Reeves confirmed she was looking at wealthy taxpayers as she draws up her budget plans.But she stressed that she was determined not to deter this group from making the UK their home. “I want Britain to be a great place for talent, for entrepreneurs, for successful individuals to come, and that requires getting the balance right,” Reeves said

Labour ministers met fossil fuel lobbyists 500 times in first year of power, analysis shows

Government ministers met representatives from the fossil fuel industry more than 500 times during their first year in power – equivalent to twice every working day, according to research.The analysis found that fossil fuel lobbyists were present at 48% more ministerial meetings during Labour’s first year in power than under the Conservatives in 2023.The government defended the meetings, saying ministers held meetings with a wide range of representatives from “the energy industry, unions and civil society to drive forward our clean energy superpower mission”.The findings have raised concern among critics about the extent of the fossil fuel industry’s influence over government at a time when ministers are trying to lower bills and transition to a more sustainable energy system.A report from the International Energy Agency in 2023 found that fossil fuel companies still had “minimal” engagement with the global clean energy transition, contributing just 1% of clean energy investment globally

Reform UK accused of sowing division in Wales in rowdy TV byelection debate

Reform UK has been accused of sowing division over immigration in the south Welsh valleys constituency of Caerphilly before next week’s crucial Senedd byelection.During a fiery candidates’ debate, Nigel Farage’s party was criticised for using immigrants to score political points rather than treating them as individuals.An audience member said that people like her who had someone not born in the UK in her family no longer felt welcome in the area since Reform had arrived to campaign and had advised her sons to avoid certain places.A new poll, released on Thursday, suggested Reform was leading the race in the byelection for the Welsh parliament seat, with 42% of people saying they would support the party, followed by Plaid Cymru (38%), with Labour trailing on 12% and the Tories on 4%.If the poll proves accurate, it would be a huge blow to Labour, which has always held the Caerphilly Senedd and Westminster seats and currently runs the Welsh government

Drag acts, detractors and true-blue diehards: my weird weekend at a Margaret Thatcher festival

The bronze statue of Margaret Thatcher by the sculptor Douglas Jennings has a rating of 2.8 out of five on Google Maps. Although curiously, none of the reviewers seems to have overly preoccupied themselves with the quality of the craftsmanship or the fidelity of the likeness. “One of the most important PMs this country ever had,” writes one. “It’s a public toilet but there’s nowhere to wash your hands,” writes another

Proposed UK cuts to global aid fund could lead to 300,000 preventable deaths, say charities

The UK is expected to slash its contribution to a leading aid fund combating preventable diseases, with charities warning this could lead to more than 300,000 otherwise preventable deaths.If confirmed, the anticipated 20% cut in the UK contribution to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, would be announced on the sidelines of next month’s G20 summit in South Africa, which Keir Starmer is due to attend.Aid groups said such a reduction, on top of a 30% cut to the UK contribution at the previous funding round for the group three years ago, would further risk years of progress in combating the disease after Donald Trump slashed US aid.No decision has been publicly announced before the Global Fund’s “replenishment” summit, covering 2027-29, and one government official said this did not recognise the extent of the cut predicted.However, aid groups say a proposed reduction in UK funding from £1bn to £800m is being widely discussed by senior government officials

Ministry of Justice ‘has failed to file spending receipts of nearly £11bn’

The Ministry of Justice, the Whitehall department in charge of a £13bn annual budget for prisons, probation and courts across England and Wales, has failed to file spending receipts of nearly £11bn, a report has said.Tussell, the public spending analyst firm, said the government department was more than two years behind on publishing receipts for multimillion pound contracts, weakening scrutiny around public money.The last time the government department filed receipts from its suppliers was May 2023, Tussell said. The industry standard is to allow leeway of two months to publish receipts.A spokesperson for Tussell said: “This gap in publication is deeply concerning and highlights that the government is failing to meet its own transparency standards