Ben Jennings on the runup to the budget – cartoon

Peter Kyle defends government as Reeves faces criticism about pre-budget briefings ahead of Wednesday announcement Good morning. We are two days away from the budget and, although we have a good idea of some of the main measures in it, the real debate about whether they are wise or not will not kick off until Wednesday afternoon. But Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is already facing criticism about the handling of the process ahead of Wednesday, and this morning, with the CBI holding its annual conference, those comments are getting fresh prominence. Put bluntly, expectation management is widely seen as…

The changes could see funding boosts for Reform-led councils in the north with high levels of deprivation Deprived towns and cities in the Midlands and the north of England are the big winners in a shake-up of local authority funding that will redirect cash from affluent rural areas to urban councils hit hardest by austerity. Ministers said the changes put in place a fairer system that recognised the extra needs and weaker council tax-raising powers of councils in so-called “left behind” areas. It guarantees them real-terms funding increases for the next three years. Continue reading… Source link India News…

Prime minister says Reform UK leader has ‘questions to answer’ about alleged comments at school which included songs about Holocaust Keir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage of being “spineless” when it comes to tackling racism in his party after the Guardian revealed allegations he made xenophobic and antisemitic comments while he was at school. The prime minister said the Reform UK leader had “questions to answer” about the comments and chants alleged, which included songs about the Holocaust and accusations of bullying towards ethnic minority schoolboys. Continue reading… Source link India News Gujarat police complete… After 3 Fire Incidents,…