Britain’s unemployment rate rose to five percent in the third quarter, the highest since early 2021, raising concerns ahead of the government’s upcoming budget.

Reeves gave particular importance to sticking with her “iron-clad” fiscal rules. These, she argued, were essential for showing she is being responsible with the nation’s finances and preventing a further rise in the cost of borrowing (the interest the government pays on its debt).

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has refused to be drawn on speculation that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will raise UK income tax. While an increase would not apply in Scotland - which has distinct bands and rates - it would lead to a cut in the Holyrood budget under devolved funding arrangements, known as the fiscal framework.

Britain's labour market cooled noticeably in the third quarter as the unemployment rate jumped and wage growth slowed, according to data on Tuesday that will bolster expectations for a Bank of England interest rate cut next month.

Shearman & Sterling advises on many of the most significant subsidy matters in the UK and European Union. As part of this work, we have seen the increasing role that subsidy has played in the policy choices made by Governments—to support net zero ...

The £150m cut to the UK’s contribution to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a mistake, writes MP Fleur Anderson. But the upcoming Budget is a chance to change course

Britain's jobless rate has surged to its highest level for more than four-and-a-half years and wage growth has slowed further as the labour market continues to weaken, according to official figures. Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a worse-than-expected rise in the rate of unemployment,