Streetlights Going Britain

The streetlights going out over Britain tell a brutal story: austerity isn't over – it's getting worse | John Harris

Labour won’t achieve its aim of reviving the UK’s economy until it takes the plight of cash-starved councils more seriously. All over the country, the lights are going out. The level of need for ...

World - The Guardian - 14 hours ago

Britain’s period of ‘National Reviewal’

Also in this week’s newsletter, SME export sales dip

World - Financial Times - October 24

Three tests for Britain’s Budget

Reeves must stabilise the economy, and pave the way for higher growth

Business - Financial Times - October 27

The pressures on Britain’s state, in charts

Ageing population is a great policy achievement but the higher costs demand tax increases and improved growth

World - Financial Times - October 30

Goodbye to low-tax Britain

One does not need to subscribe to hyperbolic Tory rhetoric to recognise that this Budget heralded a major shift

Business - Financial Times - October 30

The problem with Britain’s red tape obsession

UK has repeatedly promised to reduce bureaucracy, but such pledges have also kept falling short

World - Financial Times - October 20

PHOTO COLLECTION: Australia Britain Royals

This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.

Entertainment - ABC News - October 21

MP launches plan to 'make Britain vaguely civilised'

Neil O'Brien's ideas include big fines for playing music on transport and a crackdown on spitting.

Jilly Cooper’s Britain: world capital of bad sex

A British weakness for bawdy banter is at the heart of hit TV show ‘Rivals’. Isn’t it time we grew up?

Business - Financial Times - October 26

UK Budget: What to Know Before Labour’s Announcement

The new Labour Party government said it had inherited a challenging financial position and warned of tax increases and spending cuts when it reveals its budget this week.

Top stories - The New York Times - October 28

‘No shortcuts’: Labour sets Britain on risky road to recovery

Starmer and Reeves have time on their side as they take major political gamble

Business - Financial Times - October 30

Britain’s Labour Budget: bold ambition, uncertain prospects

Rachel Reeves must now deliver on her investment plans, or taxes will rise even further

World - Financial Times - October 30

U.K. Budget Makes a Big Bet on Spending for Growth

The Labour Party is betting that extra spending on public services and more investment will eventually revitalize the country’s stagnant economy.

Business - The New York Times - October 31

Britain's Conservative Party elects Kemi Badenoch as leader

Kemi Badenoch is now the first Black woman to lead a major British political party.

Britain's 'best new building of 1996' to be demolished

Salford University's award-winning Centenary Building has been vacant for the past eight years.

At COP29, Keir Starmer Announces the UK’s Ambitious Climate Targets

The prime minister announced more ambitious climate targets, charting a very different course from the United States, which is expected to roll back its energy transition plans.

World - The New York Times - 5 days ago

Britain desperately needs a proper industrial strategy

Collaboration between business and government is central to achieving that goal

World - Financial Times - 3 days ago

Britain’s bold plan to create super funds

The case for consolidating the UK’s sprawling pension arsenal is strong

Business - Financial Times - 3 days ago

Rachel Reeves’ plans to reform Britain’s pensions industry

Proposals expected to lead to rapid consolidation of workplace retirement schemes and reallocation of assets

World - Financial Times - 2 days ago

‘They don’t understand business’: corporate Britain cools on Labour

Chancellor Rachel Reeves attempts to win back support for her party after rocky early months

Business - Financial Times - 21 hours ago

Americans go to the polls

Plus, Fed and BoE rate-setting meetings, Hungary’s informal EU summit and the Berlin Wall anniversary

World - Financial Times - November 3

New Zealand beat Great Britain to win America's Cup

New Zealand retain the America's Cup after beating Great Britain 7-2 in the 37th edition of the event.

New Zealand win America’s Cup as Britain’s challenge falls short

NZ first to win cup three times in a row in modern history Ben Ainslie promises return with Ineos Britannia Ineos Britannia’s challenge for the 37th America’s Cup is over, and Ineos Britannia’s ...

World - The Guardian - October 19

Ben Ainslie keeps faith in Britain’s prolonged pursuit of America’s Cup

Skipper is devoted to winning the sailing trophy which has proved elusive but catching New Zealand is a huge ask. Ineos Britannia had only just crossed the finish line, 37 seconds and some 300 ...

World - The Guardian - October 20

Son of Singapore’s First Prime Minister Says He Is Granted Asylum in the U.K.

Lee Hsien Yang accused his brother, a former prime minister, of persecuting him politically, inflaming the feud in Singapore’s first family.

World - The New York Times - October 23

Britain and Germany will sign a defense pact to counter Russia's growing threat

World - Yahoo News - October 22

Britain and Germany sign defense pact to counter Russia's growing threat

Officials say German submarine-hunting planes will patrol the North Atlantic from a base in Scotland under a new Britain-Germany defense pact in response to the growing threat from Russia

World - ABC News - October 23

Trump accuses Britain's ruling Labour Party of election interference

Former President Donald Trump accused Keir Starmer's British Labour Party of illegally assisting Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the election Nov. 5.

Britain's PM rejects a claim by the Trump campaign about election interference

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rejected a claim by Donald Trump’s campaign that his Labour Party is illegally interfering in the U.S. presidential election

World - ABC News - October 23

How a Metal Detector Hobby Turned Up the Chew Valley Hoard in Britain

A pastime in a farmer’s field led to the discovery of Norman-era coins valued at more than $5 million.

Top stories - The New York Times - October 24

Britain's leaders likely to face slavery reparations questions at a summit of former colonies

A confrontation for Britain over its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade appears increasingly likely to feature at a summit of nations its empire once colonized, after Caribbean leaders said ...

World - ABC News - October 24

Calls for reparations for Britain's slave trade are rooted in dark legacy

A debate about reparations for Britain’s role in the slave trade overshadowed a summit in Samoa of the Commonwealth, many of whose member nations were once British colonies

World - ABC News - October 25

Britain's Labour government to deliver debut Budget this week, settling weeks of uncertainty

U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves will deliver the government's hotly awaited debut budget on Wednesday, putting to bed weeks of uncertainty over potential tax hikes and spending cuts.

Business - CNBC - October 28

Utility in Britain Offers Free Electricity to Grow Clean Energy

A utility sends phone alerts when wind power is cheap. A builder sells “zero bill” houses. They’re among several experiments to redefine how people value electricity.

World - The New York Times - October 29

Tommy Robinson, U.K. Anti-immigrant Agitator, Jailed for Contempt of Court

The founder of the English Defence League was sentenced to 18 months for ignoring a court order to stop making false claims about a teenage Syrian refugee.