Spring Statement 1) Reeves to blame spending cuts on Trump as plans unravel
“Rachel Reeves will blame spending cuts on the global market turmoil triggered by Donald Trump as she reveals slashed growth forecasts in her Spring Statement on Wednesday. In a gloomy set of predictions, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will halve the growth rate for this year and warn of rising inflation in the months ahead. The Chancellor will attempt to deflect the blame by pointing to Mr Trump, citing a “changing world” since her Budget in October. But the Conservatives have argued that Ms Reeves’ National Insurance rise has damaged the economy, with Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, saying she must not make “excuses”. – Daily Telegraph
- It’s Trump’s fault, Chancellor will claim – Daily Express
- Britain braces for ‘devastating’ £36bn tax raid in a single week – Daily Telegraph
- Investors dump the pound before spring statement – The Times
- Chancellor prepares to unveil £15bn in new spending cuts, and will say global chaos is at fault – Daily Mail
- Reeves to unveil huge spending cuts – Daily Express
- Defence spending boost of £2.2bn – FT
- Reeves set to pump extra £2bn into defence spending – The Sun
- Gloomy spring statement to set stage for autumn austerity – FT
- Inflation falls to 2.8% in boost to Chancellor before statement – The Guardian
- Latest inflation figure gives hope to interest rate cut – Daily Mail
- Huge relief for Chancellor as inflation falls – Daily Express
- Whitehall to axe HR jobs and hire more data experts – The Times
- Corbyn blasts Labour over benefit cuts – Daily Express
- Reeves criticised by fellow minister over concert tickets – FT
- Khan under fire over free football tickets in huge Labour row – Daily Express
- Labour MPs block ban on Chinese solar panels ‘made by slaves’ – Daily Telegraph
Comment
>Today:
Spring Statement 2) Chancellor to announce further benefit cuts
“Rachel Reeves will announce further welfare cuts after the budget watchdog told ministers their benefits reforms will save £1.6 billion less than planned. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) rejected the Treasury’s £5 billion welfare savings estimate in a row that will heighten tensions between Labour and the independent forecaster. It instead put the value of the cuts at £3.4 billion. Unease among backbenchers about the cuts is likely to be intensified as Reeves sets out further welfare savings of about £500 million to help to balance the books.” – The Times
- More benefits cuts planned as Reeves forced to find extra £1.6bn – The Guardian
Russia rejects Trump’s new ceasefire unless sanctions lifted
“Vladimir Putin refused to implement a new ceasefire deal in the Black Sea unless Donald Trump gets international sanctions on Russia lifted. Russia demanded access to global food and fertiliser markets, and its reintegration into international banking systems, as its price for a maritime truce with Ukraine. The White House announced the Black Sea ceasefire on Tuesday after 12 hours of talks between Russia and the US in Saudi Arabia on Monday and a long silence from both camps.” – Daily Telegraph
- Black Sea ceasefire agreed but Russia’s price is lifting of some sanctions – The Times
- Russia and Ukraine agree to ‘eliminate the use of force’ in Black Sea – The Guardian
White House scrambles to explain text leaks in contradictory blame game
“President Trump and his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, gave competing explanations on Tuesday night for how a journalist was added to a high-level security discussion on US war plans. Waltz told Fox News that he took “full responsibility” for accidentally adding Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to the secret group chat on the Signal app but was still trying to “figure out” exactly how it happened. Moments later Trump appeared on Newsmax and blamed a “lower level” member of Waltz’s staff for the security breach — a claim that Waltz himself denied.” – The Times
Assisted dying in doubt after Leadbeater backs down
“Assisted dying has been thrown into doubt after its Labour MP sponsor agreed to postpone implementing the law until after the next election. Kim Leadbeater, the MP behind the Bill, has proposed delaying the introduction of assisted dying in England and Wales for two years until 2029. The revised timeline raises the prospect that a new government could abandon plans to establish an assisted dying regime following warnings that the law would overburden the NHS and judiciary. Ms Leadbeater is thought to have climbed down after civil servants responsible for drafting amendments told her the Bill was unworkable.” – Daily Telegraph
- Bill could be delayed until 2029 – The Times
- Assisted dying law rollout likely delayed until at least 2029 – The Guardian
- Doubt over bill after delay – Daily Express
>Today:
Streeting: Israel’s attacks on Gaza are ‘unjustifiable’ and ‘intolerable’
“Israel’s attacks on Gaza are “unjustifiable” and “intolerable”, Wes Streeting has said, as the health secretary expressed discomfort at images of bombs shattering the region that has been under threat by the Israelis “for many years”. Streeting said he found Israel’s decision to break the Gaza ceasefire “soul-destroying”, and insisted the attacks do not “serve in Israel’s self-interest and cannot be justified as self-defence”, adding: “It has got to stop.” On Monday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 65 people in Gaza, including women, children and two journalists, nearly a week after it broke its ceasefire deal with Hamas.” – The Guardian
- Hundreds join protest against Hamas in northern Gaza – The Guardian
‘Credible evidence’ Reform MP Lowe harassed women, says KC
“An investigation has found “credible evidence” that Rupert Lowe, the former Reform MP, harassed two female staff. He failed to tackle a “toxic” office culture despite complaints of victimisation, constant criticisms and discriminatory behaviour, according to a report by Jacqueline Perry KC. The senior lawyer was commissioned by Reform to look into allegations against Lowe after he had the whip suspended earlier this month, leading to an acrimonious row with Nigel Farage.” – The Times
- Probe finds ‘credible evidence’ of harassment by suspended Reform MP – FT
University fined £585k in free speech row
“The University of Sussex has been fined £585,000 by the higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), for failing to uphold freedom of speech. It follows the case of Prof Kathleen Stock, who left the university in 2021 after being accused of transphobia for her views on sex and gender issues. The OfS criticised the university’s policy statement on Trans and Non-Binary equality, saying its requirement to “positively represent trans people” and an assertion that “transphobic propaganda [would] not be tolerated” could lead staff and students to “self-censor”. The University of Sussex plans to challenge the OfS findings legally, Vice-Chancellor Prof Sasha Roseneil said.” – BBC News
