Kiran Stacey

English councils to remain poorer than in 2010 despite funding rise, says report Exclusive: Impact of austerity cannot be undone by end of parliament despite above-inflation funding, analysis finds

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...

Especially this part:

Parenting advice on social media is often poor quality, says Phillipson Education secretary warns against misleading claims online during launch of ‘Best Start in Life’ campaign

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...

Labour MPs call on Rachel Reeves to scrap council tax Exclusive: 13 mainly northern MPs say a new system should better account for higher house prices in south-east

EXC: Over a dozen Labour MPs call on Rachel Reeves to *scrap* council tax in her budget.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

UK role in Gaza ceasefire agreement questioned by US figures US ambassador to Israel calls Bridget Phillipson ‘delusional’ for saying UK played key role, though others point to important input from British figures

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...

Starmer accused of pushing out some of last progressive allies in No 10 shake-up Exclusive: PM reorganising key parts of government to give chief secretary Darren Jones more Whitehall control

EXC: Starmer accused of pushing progressives out as No 10 shake up continues.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Rachel Reeves to lift two-child benefit cap in November budget Exclusive: Officials exploring options to change rule that affected 1.7 million children in Great Britain last year

This follows @jessicaelgot.bsky.social's scoop last week that Rachel Reeves is looking for ways to partly raise the cap.

theguardian.com/society/2025...

Phillipson is chairing the govt's child poverty task force - so her words carry weight.

Labour’s Bridget Phillipson on Gaza, child poverty and the deputy leadership race – podcast Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey speak to the education secretary and Labour deputy leadership candidate Bridget Phillipson about the plan for a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as why she is pushing the prime...

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...

Rachel Reeves given extra £3bn for budget after VAT error fixed ONS says public borrowing estimates have been out by £200m-£500m a month since January

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...

Ministers to announce significant changes to UK’s planning system Exclusive: Differences over changes to environmental and legal provisions to prompt economic growth hint at chaos at heart of government

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...

BBC bosses want defence budget to help pay for the World Service Exclusive: Executives at corporation say media monitoring and anti-disinformation are vital to national security

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...

Rachel Reeves to lift two-child benefit cap in November’s budget Exclusive: Officials exploring options to change rule that affected 1.7 million children in Great Britain last year UK politics live – latest updates

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

Massive thanks to UCL and More in Common for helping make this happen.

Come!

Just turn up!

Politics Weekly is going live!

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

Ed Miliband looking into more North Sea drilling despite Labour pledge Exclusive: Energy secretary examining ways to allow oil and gas exploration without breaking manifesto promise

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...

British officials fear Donald Trump could recognise Israeli West Bank settlements Government insiders say move would be a serious blow to prospect of a two-state solution

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-...

Reform UK receives £100,000 donation from design firm that faced winding-up petition Exclusive: Interior Design Landscape, which faced closure by HMRC early this year, made donation in June

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...

Just jealous really

You're just saying that because she namechecked you 100 times.

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.

Labour comms director helped write manifesto while still working at TikTok Exclusive: James Lyons rewrote 2024 election pledges ‘over evenings and weekends’ before his exit from social media company

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."

Angela Rayner used family conveyancing firm to buy tax row flat Exclusive: Experts say small firms offering general legal services may not be equipped to deal with ownership of properties held in trust

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...