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Guido Fawkes21 May 2026

Business Activity Falls for First Time in 13 Months

The latest S&P Global Flash UK PMI composite output index dropped to 48.5 in May from 52.6 in April. A 13-month low and well below the 50 expansion threshold… That reading significantly undershot the 51.6 consensus forecast from Reuters-polled economists. Services saw the sharpest activity decline since January 2021, with the overall reading the lowest…

The Guardian Politics21 May 2026

Greens select nurse and ‘committed local campaigner’ as Makerfield byelection candidate

Chris Kennedy chosen amid reports Greens do not want to be blamed for splitting progressive vote and allowing Reform to win UK politics live – latest updates The Green party has chosen “a committed local campaigner” as its candidate in the Makerfield byelection which is due to take place on 18 June. Chris Kennedy, a nurse and children’s safeguarding specialist, was chosen after a hustings on Wednesday amid reports that the party was proposing to hold back from investing significant resources i

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics21 May 2026

Streeting calls for equal tax on income and capital gains in Labour leadership pitch

MP says current system is unfair and his idea would result in a ‘wealth tax that works’ UK politics live – latest updates Former health secretary Wes Streeting has set out plans for a “wealth tax that works”, by equalising tax on assets and income. Streeting said the current system – in which capital gains tax is generally much lower than income tax – was not fair and penalised work, arguing the taxes should be equalised. Continue reading...

PoliticsEconomyHousing
Guido Fawkes21 May 2026

Bad-Tempered Burnham Loses Cool in Clash with Daily Mail’s Christian Calgie

The Mail’s Christian Calgie trekked up to Makerfield this week to follow Reform on the campaign trail. By coincidence, he collided with Andy Burnham in a café. It did not go well. Burnham decided to turn it into a lecture on ‘boundaries’ (during an historic by-election in which he’s trying to defenestrate the Prime Minister)……

Politics
The Guardian Politics21 May 2026

Rachel Reeves tells foul-mouthed Reform UK heckler good manners matter

Chancellor wins support from Conservative Mel Stride, while Farage says he’d ‘like to buy man a pint’ UK politics live – latest updates Rachel Reeves surprised onlookers when she gave a stern rebuke to a foul-mouthed heckler who shouted at her from his van as she conducted a broadcast interview. However, the chancellor has won support from unlikely sources as Conservative politicians have leapt to her defence. Continue reading...

PoliticsDefenceReform
BBC Politics21 May 2026

UK agrees £3.7bn trade deal with six Gulf states

The deal will remove an estimated £580m worth of tariffs from British exports, but rights groups are critical

The Guardian Politics21 May 2026

Rich already being taxed properly, says minister, as Streeting calls for ‘wealth tax that works’– UK politics live

Treasury’s Lucy Rigby says Rachel Reeves introduced measures in her first budget as Streeting calls for capital gains rates to be aligned with income tax Good morning. It’s a big day for Rachel Reeves, the chancellor. In a Commons statement, she is announcing a series of measures to help people with the cost of living. She wants people to enjoy a “Great British summer”, she says. Reeves’s plan for what makes for a good summer is not quite the same as Samantha Niblett’s; the chancellor is talking

PoliticsEconomy
BBC Politics21 May 2026

Reeves' summer savings drive won't stretch to energy bills

The chancellor is announcing measures aimed at easing the cost of living - but no help yet with energy bills.

Economy
BBC Politics21 May 2026

Chris Mason: Reeves' summer savings drive won't stretch to energy bills

The chancellor is announcing measures aimed at easing the cost of living - but no help yet with energy bills.

Economy
BBC Politics21 May 2026

Green Party selects nurse as Makerfield candidate

Chris Kennedy was selected by local party members following a hustings.

Environment
Guido Fawkes21 May 2026

HMRC Stats Show Wes Streeting’s Flagship Tax Idea Would Lose £7 Billion

Wes Streeting has called for a massive hike in Capital Gains Tax as part of his pitch for the leadership. Or the highest office possible under Burnham… Streeting complained to the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast about the tax system and proposed a “wealth tax that works“: “A member of my family is a cleaner in…

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics21 May 2026

All this talk about ‘difficult’ cuts, yet the largest part of Britain’s welfare bill is never mentioned. Why? | Zoe Williams

Pensioners vote and young people don’t, so the truism goes. That’s no longer any reason to avoid dealing with the triple lock Nothing makes you feel more like a de-developing nation than being reprimanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Rachel Reeves can take solace in trace amounts from the fact that the IMF advised her only to “stay the course” on spending limits – whatever energy or inflation crises are down the line, she shouldn’t cave to demands for government support. Basically,

Economy