Economic growth in doubt – Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, several newspapers highlight the OBR’s warning that the Chancellor’s plans for economic growth could be wiped out by the global trade war as Donald Trump continues to issue further tariff threats.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has halved the 2025 economic growth forecast to 1%, down from 2%. Despite these austerity measures, the tax burden is projected to reach a record 37.7% of the GDP by 2027-28.
Recent welfare cuts are projected to push tens of thousands of children into poverty, disproportionately affecting low-income families and those with disabilities.
Spring Statement 2025 reaction – Thursday’s headlines are reacting to yesterday’s Spring Statement delivered by the chancellor.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced significant measures to address the UK’s economic challenges. Key points include a £14 billion plan involving cuts to welfare payments (£4.8 billion) and departmental spending (£3.6 billion) to fix public finances. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has halved the 2025 economic growth forecast to 1%, down from 2%. Despite these austerity measures, the tax burden is projected to reach a record 37.7% of the GDP by 2027-28. Additionally, a £3.25 billion Transformation Fund was introduced to drive efficiencies across government departments.
Following the chancellor’s update on the economy, Donald Trump announced new import taxes of 25% on cars and car parts coming into America in a move that threatened to widen the global trade war.
Unprecedented anti-Hamas protests in northern Gaza saw hundreds of Palestinians demanding an end to the war, chanting slogans like “We don’t want war” and “Out Hamas.”
Forth Valley Royal Hospital experienced a 70-minute power outage due to backup generator failure during Storm Eowyn, raising concerns over patient safety and hospital preparedness.
President Trump has announced a 25% tariff on all imported cars, set to begin on 2 April, which he terms “liberation day.”
Climate change and overfishing are making it harder to catch the anchovies essential to the condiment that underlies so much of Vietnam and southeast Asia’s food.
Emmanuel Macron expressed concerns over Russia’s tendency to reinterpret ceasefire agreements, following a recent tentative deal involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia concerning strikes in the Black Sea region.
Network Rail will establish a new property company aimed at constructing 40,000 homes on its rail estate over the next decade to help meet the government’s housing targets.
Marjorie Taylor Greene has emerged as a prominent figure in the “Make America Great Again” movement, employing a crisis management strategy that involves attacking, discrediting, and distracting from controversies.
Cliff Notes The US military confirmed the location of an M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle in Lithuania, linked to four missing soldiers who were training near the Belarus border. A search and rescue operation is ongoing, described as “intensive” by the Lithuanian military. Confusion arose regarding the potential deaths of the soldiers, with a NATO spokesperson clarifying that no confirmation had been made. Vehicle found in hunt for American soldiers missing in Lithuania, US army…
Cliff Notes Jaswinder Singh, a 51-year-old taxi driver, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old passenger in Falkirk on 4 February 2024. Sheriff Maryam Labaki described Singh’s actions as a "grave breach of trust" and stated that a custodial sentence was necessary due to the seriousness of the offence. In addition to his prison term, Singh will be on the sex offenders’ register and is subject to a sexual…
Cliff Notes – Spring statement 2025 key takeaways The Office for Budget Responsibility has halved the UK’s growth forecast for 2025 from 2% to 1%, with the Chancellor projecting a move from a deficit to a surplus by 2027-30. Welfare spending will see cuts, including a 50% reduction in the universal credit health element, with estimates indicating that an additional 250,000 individuals may fall into poverty by 2030. The Chancellor confirmed a commitment to increasing…
Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the 2025 growth estimate for the UK has been halved to 1% from 2% by the government’s official forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR)
The United States, traditionally isolationist and safely sheltered by two vast oceans, has always decided and declared itself as a ruler, but never before has it pressed its claim so dramatically.
Trumpism is here to stay and will outlive his presidency. The reason for that is that his policies have shifted the dynamics in US politics so severely that now Democrats will have to adapt.
Washington is lifting sanctions on Moscow for the first time in over three years, indicating a significant shift towards US-Russia rapprochement under Donald Trump.
Trump defends his team after text security breach Trump Defends Team After Security Breach: President Trump is standing by his national security team after a security breach where sensitive U.S. military plans were accidentally leaked in a group chat. Democrats are demanding further investigation into the incident. Baltimore Bridge Collapse Recovery: One year after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the city is still recovering. Cleanup efforts have made progress, but the loss…
USC cuts spending amid federal probes Trump Downplays Security Breach: President Trump dismissed concerns over a recent security breach where sensitive military plans were accidentally leaked via the Signal app. He referred to the incident as a minor “glitch.” Here’s a summary of the main stories on the front page of the Los Angeles Times:
Officials minimise war-plans breach Trump Defends Adviser: President Donald Trump is supporting his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, after an incident where Waltz mistakenly added a journalist to a sensitive government chat. Democrats are demanding answers, calling it a serious security breach. Here’s a summary of the main stories on the front page of The Arizona Republic:
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has announced plans to accompany his wife, Usha Vance, on a trip to Greenland this Friday. The visit, initially intended for Usha to attend Greenland’s national dogsled race and explore cultural sites, has been refocused to include both the Vice President and Second Lady visiting the U.S. Space Force’s Pituffik Space Base to assess Arctic security concerns.
Reeves hunts growth in economic gloom Western Mail reports Reeves will acknowledge she needs to go “further and faster to kickstart growth as she scrambles for savings to help balance the UK’s books without hiking taxes. Wales scored a VERY Late goal last night to salvage a point in their World Cup qualifier match.
Scottish Labour MP slammed for benefits comments The National says a Scottish Labour MP has been slammed after telling a constituent he is “proud” of the UK Government’s attempts to get people off benefits. The backbencher insisted that Labour would rescue the “broken” benefits system “from the jaws of Tory callousness and mismanagement”.
Rachel Reeves exclusive: My Mission The Daily Mirror has an exclusive interview with Rachel Reeves, saying she is on a “mission” to make Britain strong enough to combat global threats. Reeves has told the paper that the UK is ready to face down Russia but also promises poor people will not be forced to pay the price. The chancellor tells the paper, “we will always protect those who most need it.” Joey Barton has been found…
Don’t shift blame for economy’s woes, voters tell Reeves Daily Mail says the chancellor will seek to shift blame over the failing economy. The paper says the “beleaguered chancellor” has been struck a blow by a “bombshell poll” which suggests voters blame her for the situation. The Mail also notes that experts from the OBR are expected to warn that “living standards are set to stagnate for the rest of the decade.” Prince Harry is pictured…
A new Sky News documentary, “10 Years of Darkness: ISIS & The Yazidis,” reveals that many Yazidi women remain enslaved in ISIS detention camps a decade after their initial abduction.
