‘If voters aren’t better off by the next election, we’re screwed’: Labour insiders voice fears over budget
Some say party risks ‘looking twee’ by focusing on small fixes amid growing nervousness that budget lacks ambitionIn the days since Labour’s annual conference, party insiders have been sharing a word cloud produced by the pollsters More in Common, which…
The Guardian view on Conservative conference: struggling to break out of the comfort zone | Editorial
Kemi Badenoch’s personal brand is not strong enough to revive a party that so thoroughly lost the trust of the British peopleFor a party that keeps losing elections, the Conservatives have enjoyed a remarkably upbeat conference in Birmingham this week.…
Tories accused of prioritising rich voters as Badenoch lays out inheritance tax cut plan
Party hopes to win over affluent middle-class voters as leader rejects calls to ‘unite the right’ in conference speechKemi Badenoch has announced that the Conservatives would abolish inheritance tax on family homes if elected, prompting criticism that…
Beware rightwing economic myths such as ‘maxing out the nation’s credit card’ | Letters
Readers respond to an article in which Larry Elliott argues that Andy Burnham must challenge neoliberal nostrumsLarry Elliott’s column on the rightwing economic myths constraining Andy Burnham’s government should be required reading before John Healey’s…
‘I reside in Monaco’: billionaire said to have quit UK over potential wealth tax had already left
TaxWatch contradicts claims about David Reuben’s departure and questions stories of super-rich exodusApparent exodus of super-rich suggests UK is no longer billionaires’ playgroundWhen the Sunday Times broke the news that David Reuben, one of the richest…
The Guardian view on Tory economics: Britain’s future needs more than Thatcher’s past | Editorial
The Conservatives blame their failures on abandoning their 1976 principles. But the country needs investment and resilience rather than another round of spending cutsThe Conservative party wants to go back to the future under Kemi Badenoch. In her…
‘People are deserting it’: why are London mansions struggling to sell?
For decades, the capital’s house prices raced ahead of the national average – but now they are falling in prime areasAn elegant Georgian facade, a full-width balcony and an exclusive address in South Kensington just steps from the Natural History Museum…
Would a gambling tax rise in the budget really shut shops and cost jobs?
Most of the betting industry is urging the chancellor not to double slot machine duty to raise up to £460m more a yearGambling industry kingpins are fuming about reports that the chancellor, John Healey, is considering increasing taxes on high-street…
Is this how Andy Burnham sees the future of work? | Brief letters
Parental influence | Public investment | Capital gains tax on property profits | A degree of success? | Oxygen of publicityKeir Starmer reminded us often that his father was a toolmaker, a skilled occupation. In his Labour party conference speech, Andy…
The Guardian view on Britain’s new chancellor: his purpose must be to protect living standards | Editorial
John Healey has offered a vision, but an energy shock will mean households and businesses need to be offered help in the budgetIn his first speech to Labour party conference as chancellor, John Healey offered prudence with a purpose in a speech…