Hospitality pleads for 'lifeline' as Reeves accused of imposing 'stealth tax' in budget

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, has called for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to resign, accusing her of breaking tax promises in the recent budget that includes a £26 billion tax increase aimed at addressing the UK's cost of living crisis. This follows Badenoch's boycott of the Your Party conference, where she praised Jeremy Corbyn's leadership style.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing accusations of misleading the public regarding the UK's financial situation prior to the recent budget announcement, which included a £26 billion tax increase aimed at addressing the cost of living crisis.

This week, urgent diplomatic efforts unfolded over Ukraine as a leaked 28-point peace plan prompted emergency discussions and a rapid revision in Geneva. President Trump has reportedly paused his ultimatum while Kyiv deals with a corruption scandal amidst these negotiations.

Tracey Smith has been sentenced to jail for harassment after sending 22 emails and 10 voicemails to Ellie Reeves, the solicitor general and sister of Chancellor Rachel Reeves, accusing her of transphobia and alleging physical assault by Rachel Reeves. This case highlights the serious consequences of harassment in political contexts.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that individuals relying solely on the state pension will not be subject to income tax, a move that could create a two-tier system for retirees. The new state pension is set to increase to £241.30 per week in April, just below the personal tax allowance threshold.

Rachel Reeves, the UK Chancellor, has been accused of intentionally portraying the country's economic situation as worse than it is, particularly ahead of the recent budget announcement. This claim arises amidst significant tax increases and welfare spending measures aimed at addressing the ongoing cost of living crisis in the UK.

Downing Street has dismissed claims that Chancellor Rachel Reeves misled the public regarding the necessity for tax increases in her recent budget, following revelations from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) that indicated Reeves was not at risk of breaching her fiscal rules despite a downgrade in productivity forecasts. The OBR's chair, Richard Hughes, provided details to the Commons Treasury committee about assessments sent to the Treasury prior to the budget announcement.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has challenged claims made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that she abandoned plans to raise income tax due to improved economic forecasts, asserting that she was aware of these forecasts prior to her budget announcement. This assertion was made by OBR chair Richard Hughes in a letter to the Treasury select committee, highlighting the evolving nature of the forecasts under scrutiny.