EXC: Rachel Reeves plans cuts to home energy efficiency schemes to pay for bills to be reduced. Energy industry warns of “disastrous” consequences in the long term. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Our story tonight from @kiranstacey.bsky.social me and @guardianheather.bsky.social Reeves is understood to be nervous about the consequences of such a major abandonment of the party’s pledges. But it would insulate against this rollercoaster of black holes www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...

Exc - Rachel Reeves is considering raising income tax at next month’s budget to help reduce a multibillion pound shortfall, sources have told the Guardian. Very live discussion in the Treasury and No10 as debate rages over how to give biggest possible buffer www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...

EXC: Rachel Reeves considering doing the unthinkable at the budget - and raising income tax. Story by me, @jessicaelgot.bsky.social and @guardianheather.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...

EXC: Mark Sedwill's chances of becoming Washington ambassador have been knocked, as officials fret over an article he wrote in 2021 criticising Donald Trump. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

At least 3 or 4 years ago there was a scandal about lack of funding for an arts venue in Salisbury. In response, the council spokesperson said direct to camera 'Wiltshire council is an adult social care provider'.

EXC: English councils will still be poorer in 2029 than they were in 2010, according to the IfG. Report finds councils are increasingly providing social care and little else. Libraries, youth services, parks, all falling by the wayside. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

This is fascinating by @chrisgiles.ft.com. What if the massive rise in people claiming out of work benefits is actually because we've raised the state pension age? www.ft.com/content/ee67...

Really interesting interview by Sally Weale with Bridget Phillipson, taking aim at the reams of unverified, un-evidenced parenting advice on social media. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

EXC: Over a dozen Labour MPs call on Rachel Reeves to *scrap* council tax in her budget. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

US and Israeli officials say UK had nothing to do with the Gaza peace deal. British officials insist they did - and point to similarities with the Good Friday Agreement as evidence. So who is right? My analysis here: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

EXC: Starmer accused of pushing progressives out as No 10 shake up continues. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXC: Bridget Phillipson tells the Guardian's Politics Weekly podcast that the govt should ditch the two-child benefit cap in full, not only in part. Read here: theguardian.com/politics/202... And listen here: www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Whoops! Seems the ONS has overestimated govt borrowing by £3bn. Rare bit of good news for Rachel Reeves. Story by @guardianheather.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/business/202...

EXC: Rachel Reeves will announce more changes to the planning system before the budget. But ministers are rowing about how far to go on this major part of govt policy. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXC: BBC bosses looking to tap defence budget to pay for the world service. Story with @michaelsavage.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...

EXCL: Rachel Reeves is set to lift the two-child benefit limit in the budget with officials exploring options of a new tapered system. The Treasury is exploring if it might instead be limited to three or four children – or whether there could be a tapered rate. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

A reminder about tomorrow's live Politics Weekly podcast recording with Andy Burnham in Liverpool. If you're here for Labour conference, or are just local and have an interest in politics, make sure you come along - no booking needed!

Monday 2-3 along with @uclpolicylab.bsky.social we'll also be hosting @theguardian.com politics weekly with @pippacrerar.bsky.social and @kiranstacey.bsky.social as they hold an in conversation with @andyburnham.bsky.social

Politics Weekly is going live! Come see us record a live podcast in Liverpool on Monday, with a very special guest: Andy Burnham.

EXC: Ed Miliband is looking at a number of ways to encourage more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, including granting licences to companies to explore previously-abandoned fields. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

EXC: Britain worries Trump could retaliate against Palestinian recognition by recognising illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. By me, @patrickwintour.bsky.social tour and Andrew Roth www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Fascinating insight into the Starmer-Burnham relationship from @jessicaelgot.bsky.social and @pippacrerar.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...

Great story this morning by @rowenamason.bsky.social. Reform has taken £100,000 from an interior design company which had no contact details on its website and used stock images to illustrate its projects. HMRC has tried to wind it up. Very odd. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Very interesting revelation in @kitty-donaldson.bsky.social's evening newsletter: Andrew Gwynne, one of the MPs rumoured to be thinking of standing down to make way for Andy Burnham, has applied to the Commons authorities to retire on medical grounds.

NEW: Labour’s recently-departed comms chief helped write the party’s manifesto - while he was still working for TikTok. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

BREAKING: Angela Rayner's conveyancer issues this statement: "My firm does not deal with trusts or offer tax advice. The Stamp Duty Land Tax as calculated using the HMRC calculator and was strictly based on the facts and information provided to us."

EXC: Angela Rayner used a small family conveyancing firm based in Kent to buy her flat in Hove. Though she also consulted two trust law specialists before underpaying her stamp duty. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Yes it's this week's Politics Weekly UK, with me, @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social & @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

This is the essential problem with Angela Rayner's tax affairs. In a way, it's not actually that complicated: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Confused by the Angela Rayner tax saga? Don't worry we've got you covered: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

After our overnight story saying Angela Rayner might still have to pay additional stamp duty on her £800,000 Hove flat, she confirmed that that is indeed the case: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXC: Angela Rayner could still have to pay more stamp duty on her Hove flat if HMRC decides it is a second home. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Top scoop by @annaisaac.bsky.social and @peterwalker99.bsky.social: Rachel Reeves is looking at scrapping stamp duty and replacing it with a property sales tax just on homes worth over £500,000. www.theguardian.com/money/2025/a...

New job alert: Very pleased to say I’m now the Guardian’s Policy Editor. Still working from Westminster as part of our great politics team. Am here for any politics and policy stories you feel we should be covering.

Angela Rayner: No 10 officials guilty of ‘self-harm’ by briefing against ministers

BREAKING: The Home Office is going to start using AI to decide whether young asylum seekers are children or not. This is after widespread criticism of their existing age verification process. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Wondering how two governments managed to cover up a massive data breach, an injunction and several hundred million pounds in Afghan resettlement costs? The full gory timeline is all set out here: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Britain should consider a ban on crypto political donations, says one of the ministers closest to Keir Starmer. Just as Reform encourages people to donate in Bitcoin... Story with @rowenamason.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Always nice to get a shout out at the start of a cabinet minister’s speech!

If you’re anywhere near Sheffield tomorrow, come see a live version of Guardian Politics Weekly and watch me interview @jonashworth.bsky.social and @marietidball.bsky.social on stage. FREE TICKETS crossedwires.live/podcast/guar...

Very important clarification just now from Liz Kendall: the 4-point process for disability payments (the thing that has caused most of the backlash) *WILL* be implemented next November. Any changes to the system will take longer to implement.

As the government is forced to make 'major concessions' on its planned welfare bill changes, @pippacrerar.bsky.social and @kiranstacey.bsky.social talk through what went wrong in Number 10, and, if it'll be enough to stave off a further rebellion... www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Loads of great insider details on what has happened during the welfare rebellion on this week’s pod. Listen here: www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Important clarification from DWP: Existing Pip claimants who are reassessed will be assessed under the old rules. New claimants after Nov 2026 - including people who previously claimed it but then stopped for a period of time - will be assessed under the new ones.

Getting your head round the welfare changes announced last night? The Guardian has you covered: - The No 10 climbdown in full theguardian.com/politics/202... - What it means for Keir Starmer theguardian.com/politics/202... - What it means for benefits claimants theguardian.com/politics/202...

BREAKING: Full details of those welfare bill concessions: 1) Only cut benefits for new claimants 2) Spend billions more on employment support 3) Consultation on PIP cuts, with changes to be made at committee stage Full story here: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXC: Keir Starmer has offered "massive concessions" on the welfare bill which look to have won the support of key rebels and could save him from his first defeat as PM. theguardian.com/politics/202... By @pippacrerar.bsky.social and me.

Punchy quote on the Welfare Bill from Imran Hussain, a Labour MP who was once on Starmer's front bench: “We risk walking straight into a political disaster — one that could become Labour’s poll tax moment."

EXC - No10 is set to offer concessions to Labour rebels on welfare. Talks are ongoing but changes could be made to Pip reforms. A number of cabinet ministers are now said to believe the bill has no chance of passing in its current form With @kiranstacey.bsky.social @pippacrerar.bsky.social