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The Guardian Politics30 Mar 2026

Kemi the attention-seeker somehow always makes two plus two equal five | John Crace

The looming oil crisis caused by the Iran war gives the Conservative leader a platform from which to jump to the wrong conclusions Losing sleep over the war in Iran? Worried sick about the cost of living? Can’t pay your energy bills? Then relax. Because Kemi Badenoch has a displacement activity for you. It’s becoming increasingly easier to understand the Conservative leader by viewing her as a hyperactive five-year old at the back of the class who is constantly disruptive. Who can’t get through

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics30 Mar 2026

May elections come at time of war on two fronts, Starmer says

At campaign launch, PM acknowledges concern over events in Ukraine and Iran as well as over rising cost of living UK politics live – latest updates The 7 May elections are taking place against a backdrop of “war on two fronts”, Keir Starmer has said, as he pledged action to tackle the resurgent cost of living crisis. Launching Labour’s English local elections campaign in Wolverhampton on Monday, the prime minister said: “We’re facing a war on two fronts – the Ukraine war, now four and a bit ye

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics30 Mar 2026

Starmer to say Iran war means Labour’s values needed more than ever at local elections campaign launch – UK politics live

UK PM to chair meeting in Downing Street on how government responds to economic consequences of Iran war later on Monday Good morning. Keir Starmer will today chair a meeting in Downing Street on how the government responds to the economic consequences of the Iran war, which has the potential to upend much of what the government is trying to do to improve living standards. And so he is probably not too happy about the fact that this morning he has to attend an event in the West Midlands launchin

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics29 Mar 2026

Keir Starmer to launch local elections campaign with focus on cost of living

PM will also cite Iran war as reason to stick with Labour, as party adopts new slogan: ‘Pride in Britain’ Keir Starmer will say that a vote for Reform UK will put at risk progress Labour is making on the cost of living, arguing that Britain’s values are being tested in a volatile world. Launching the party’s local elections campaign with a new slogan: “Pride in Britain”, Starmer will urge voters to stay the course with Labour. A dire set of results are predicted for the party in Wales, Scotland

PoliticsEconomyDefenceReform
The Guardian Politics29 Mar 2026

NHS to miss targets for cutting A&E wait times and performance in England

Exclusive: Health secretary’s pledges in doubt as analysis shows health service will not deliver key improvements The NHS is set to miss key targets to shorten waiting times for help at A&E, cancer care and planned hospital treatment, leaving millions of patients facing persistently long delays. The health service in England will not deliver a series of milestone improvements in its performance that ministers demanded it achieve by the time the fiscal year ends on Tuesday, a Guardian analysis of

EconomyHealthcare
The Guardian Politics29 Mar 2026

War in Iran erodes the chancellor’s headroom and exposes our fragility | Heather Stewart

Rachel Reeves boasts of the £23bn she has built up against her fiscal rules but now she – or any future steward of the economy – has little space to manoeuvre It is with no pleasure that I must report a depressing domestic byproduct of the war in the Middle East: headroom chat is back. Of course, shifts in investors’ appetite for gilts – UK government bonds – are trivial, in the context of the bloodshed in Iran and beyond. Continue reading...

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics26 Mar 2026

Rachel Reeves urged to raise taxes on companies profiting from war on Iran

Charities say taxes should rise for banks, defence and energy companies which stand to make windfall profits Middle East crisis live Rachel Reeves is being urged to raise taxes on businesses generating “windfall” profits linked to the US-Israel war on Iran to fund emergency cost of living support for UK households. With the government under pressure to respond, a group of leading charities, campaigners and trade unions said the chancellor could raise billions by taxing “excess profits” linked

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics26 Mar 2026

NS&I preparing to repay hundreds of millions of pounds over missing savings

Government-backed bank in talks about recompensing about 37,000 people whose money was misplaced UK politics live – latest updates Business live – latest updates National Savings & Investments is preparing to repay hundreds of millions of pounds to its customers over missing savings, in what is expected to be the single biggest payout in the bank’s 160-year history. The government-backed savings institution is in discussions with the Treasury to recompense about 37,000 people whose money has

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics25 Mar 2026

Fifteen new councils to be created in south and east of England

New unitary councils will replace 43 counties and districts under latest round of local government overhaul Fifteen new councils will be created in the south and east of England under the latest round of a major local government overhaul, aimed at boosting economic growth and accelerating mass housebuilding plans. The new unitary councils will replace 43 counties and districts across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Hampshire, with hundreds of councillors’ roles axed. A decision on future arrangement

PoliticsEconomyHousing
The Guardian Politics25 Mar 2026

‘Doge of the left’ could save UK taxpayers up to £30bn, says new green thinktank

Report by Verdant says rooting out waste, fraud and tax avoidance would save money that could help improve public services A “Doge of the left,” could save up to £30bn a year for taxpayers by rooting out waste, fraud and tax avoidance, according to the first report from a new green thinktank. Launched amid growing interest in the future manifesto of Zack Polanksi’s Green party, the Verdant thinktank will be co-chaired by James Meadway, a former adviser to Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell,

EconomyEnvironment
The Guardian Politics25 Mar 2026

UK inflation held at 3% before global energy price hit from Iran war

February annual rate in line with analysts’ expectations but outlook has shifted because of effects of conflict The UK inflation rate was unchanged at 3% in February, before Donald Trump’s Iran war drove up global energy costs, threatening a renewed price jump. Official figures showed the consumer prices index (CPI) remained at 3%, in line with economists’ expectations but still well above the government’s 2% target. Continue reading...

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics24 Mar 2026

UK offers to host international security summit on reopening strait of Hormuz

Defence chiefs have been discussing how to unblock the conduit for about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies The UK has offered to host an international security summit to draw up a “viable, collective plan” to reopen the strait of Hormuz as economic fallout from the Iran conflict continues. Defence chiefs have been discussing how they might unblock the vital shipping lane, through which about 20% of global oil supplies usually pass, amid the Middle East crisis unleashed by the US and Israel. C

EconomyDefence