Politics LIVE: Rachel Reeves claims she's in control of No11 but admits 'unacceptable' Budget leaks sparked chaos

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has claimed she is in control of "all media briefings" from the Treasury but admitted there were too many leaks ahead of her tax-hiking Budget.

Ms Reeves, who unveiled £26billion worth of tax rises on November 26, made the claim during a grilling from Treasury Select Committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier.

When asked if she was “in control of all media briefings and political operations inside No 11”, the Chancellor said: “Yes”.

She added: “Myself and the team officials are very clear about the MacPherson principles.

“Of course, as I said yesterday in Parliament, I did not disclose confidential information, but as I’ve also been clear, there have been leaks.”

However, Ms Reeves had already admitted there were too many leaks from Treasury officials.

The Chancellor said: “Leaks are unacceptable, the Budget had too much speculation, there are too many leaks and much of those leaks and speculation were inaccurate.”

Ms Reeves, who is now conducting a review into the pre-Budget leaks, also insisted she did not authorise a briefing to The Financial Times about income tax rates.

She told MPs: “It was not an off the record briefing. It was a leak.”

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Rachel Reeves clashes with Tory veteran over growth

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has clashed with a veteran Tory MP over her plan to deliver growth.

Dame Harriett Baldwin, a former chairwoman of the Treasury Committee, said the Chancellor “chose not to put any new growth measures in this Budget”.

Ms Reeves replied: “I did not say in the answer to my question, as you suggested, that there were no growth measures in this Budget. Far from it.”

The Chancellor also mocked Dame Harriet over the Tory Party's economic record, adding that she was “not surprised” she did not want to discuss it.

Rachel Reeves claims income tax threshold freeze doesn't break manifesto - 14 months after suggesting it would be

Rachel Reeves has claimed her decision to freeze income tax thresholds does not break of Labour's 2024 manifesto.

She told MPs: "I was very clear that everyone would have to make a contribution and you saw that in the Budget on November 26.

"We froze for an additional three years the tax thresholds, national insurance and income tax, that the previous Government had frozen for seven years.

"We extended that for a further three years. It's not a breach of the manifesto."

However, during her first Budget last year, Ms Reeves said: "I'm keeping every single promise on tax that I made in our manifesto, so there will be no extension of the freeze in income tax and national insurance thresholds beyond the decisions by the previous Government."

Chancellor provides major update to millions of pensioners

The Chancellor has also confirmed the triple lock is here to stay.

When asked by Tory MP Dame Harriet Baldwin about ruling out "capital gains on primary residences” or reducing the state pension triple lock to a “single lock”, Rachel Reeves simply replied: "Yes."

Rachel Reeves claims Treasury received 'more information' to avoid income tax increases

Rachel Reeves has suggested the Treasury received "more information" from the Office for Budget Responsibility to avoid increasing income tax rates.

She told MPs: “The OBR do costings of all the changes that we’re making as well as there being interactions between the tax measures and other economic variables, whether that be GDP, consumption, inflation and so all of this is changing.”

Ms Reeves added: “It was a big Budget, I think we’d all agree that, and every measure both has its own impact, but also a cumulative impact. So there was a lot more information between those sets.”

Treasury official sets out leak probe focus

James Bowler, who serves as permanent secretary in the Treasury, confirmed to MPs that an inquiry into leaks ahead of the Budget will look into the actions of officials, political advisers and ministers.

Mr Bowler stopped short of confirming whether the Treasury Committee would receive the inquiry's findings in full.

However, the top mandarin insisted the committee would see his response to the probe.

'I did not leak!' Rachel Reeves claims control of No11 media briefings 

Rachel Reeves has claimed control of media briefings from the Treasury but admitted there had been leaks ahead of her Budget.

She told MPs: "Yes, and myself and the team are very clear about the Macpherson Principles.

"Of course, as I said, yesterday in Parliament, I did not disclose confidential information. But as I've also been clear, there have been leaks.

"That's why we've set up a leak inquiry. And that is why we are doing this work. So that investigation is happening at the moment to ensure future budget security."

Chancellor confirms security review included in Budget leak probe

Rachel Reeves has confirmed the Treasury will conduct a security review it conducts an investigation into leaks made in the build-up to the Chancellor's tax-hiking Budget.

She said: "I want to stay on the record how frustrated I am, and have been, by these incidents and the volume of speculation and leaks.

"The budget had too much speculation. There were too many leaks. And much of that leaks and speculation was inaccurate."

Rachel Reeves expresses 'frustration' over Budget leak fiasco

Rachel Reeves has expressed her "frustration" after key details about her Budget were leaked before November 26.

Speaking to the Treasury Committee, the Chancellor said: "Leaks are unacceptable, the Budget had too much speculation, there were too many leaks... very damaging."

Ms Reeves added: "I want to say on the record how frustrated I am... a leak inquiry is underway... we are also conducting a review of Treasury security processes."

The Chancellor was also flanked by senior civil servants from No11.

The committee of MPs will examine the tax and spending plans in the Budget, and their implications for “the economy, public services and government debt”.

Rachel Reeves prepares for Treasury Committee grilling

Rachel Reeves is preparing for a grilling before the Treasury Committee just weeks after her Budget was leaked online.

The Chancellor will sit down in front of the committee at 10am.

The committee, which is chaired by a Labour MP, includes a number of high-profile Tory MPs.

Dame Harriett Baldwin and John Glen appear likely to challenge the Chancellor directly.

New poll claiming pro-Brexit majority of 2016 have DIED blasted as ‘detached from reality’

A new Brexit poll suggesting 62 per cent of Britons would vote to rejoin the European Union has been blasted as “detached from reality”.

The survey, shared by former YouGov president Peter Kellner, found 19.8 million people would now chose to rejoin the EU, up from 16.1 million Remain voters in 2016.

Meanwhile, just 11.7 million voters would still back Brexit, down from 17.4 million nearly a decade ago.

The analysis, which was shared with the fanatically pro-EU magazine New World, showed 3.2 million Brexit voters have died since the referendum was held nine years ago.

An additional 1.8 million Remain voters have also died since 2016.

The research also found 4.1 million Brexit voters have changed their minds, compared to just 1.1 million 2016 Remain supporters.

Younger voters were also identified as a key reason behind the shift, with three million new voters breaking for rejoin by a margin of five-to-one.

However, ex-Brexit Minister David Jones warned the survey is missing the “elephant in the room”.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

WATCH IN FULL: Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride speaks to GB News Breakfast

Hours before Donald Trump's attack... Keir Starmer receives special invitation to US after meeting with ambassador

A few hours before Donald Trump launched an attack on Labour's policies at a campaign rally, Sir Keir Starmer met with the US ambassador, Warren Stephens.

Mr Stephens said the duo met to "resume our ongoing diplomatic conversation about ways to maximize the US-UK partnership to advance our shared interests".

In a slight repreive for the PM after the President's recent attacks on "decaying" European countries, the ambassador said the White House was committed to America's international partnerships.

"We discussed a full range of Donald Trump's priorities, particularly, the Trump administration’s commitment to Aukus, the desire to finalise the trade agreements signed at President Trump’s historic second State Visit, our appreciation for the UK’s contribution to the Gaza peace plan, and our continued support for Ukraine," he said.

"In looking forward to 2026, I invited the Prime Minister to join our year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence."

Donald Trump directly attacks Keir Starmer's Britain at campaign rally in fresh international headache for PM

Donald Trump directly attacked Sir Keir Starmer's energy and migration policies last night at a rally in Pennsylvania.

The President told frenzied crowds: "Look at Norway, they have a section of the North Sea... It's a very rich country. They have a tremendous worth because of the North Sea.

"But the UK... If they don't go back to oil, I think a lot of bad things are happening to the UK.

"You know that their immigration policies are so bad. It's so bad. Destroying our beautiful Europe."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Ministers told to accept 40,000 migrants under contentious EU mobility scheme

Britain would be able to let in more than 40,000 EU migrants under the EU's "youth mobility scheme", new research has revealed.

A study by the UK Trade and Business Commission has found that 44,000 more young Britons left the UK as part of similar schemes with "Canzuk" allies Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

That has left the Home Office with visa "headroom" - which could be filled by European youths without smashing Labour's pledge to curb net migration.

But the EU is said not to want a cap whatsoever.

"We do not see the need for setting a quota or cap," one Brussels diplomat told The Times.

"What is wrong with our young Europeans? We do not have a problem with young Brits."

A UK Government spokesman instead said the scheme should be "balanced, time-limited and capped".

Back in London... French presidential frontrunner plots alliance with Nigel Farage to end migrant crisis for good - with Royal Navy to stop the boats

France’s presidential frontrunner Jordan Bardella is moving to forge an alliance with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to "restore Europe’s borders" after the pair held talks in London on Tuesday.

Mr Bardella, the leader of the National Rally party, pledged to change France’s border policy to support Britain in tackling the Channel small boats crisis should he secure victory in next year's elections.

Speaking to The Telegraph, the 30-year-old said he would support joint patrols with Britain and give the UK Border Force the green light to carry out “pushbacks” in the Channel.

He met Mr Farage on Tuesday, labelling him a "pioneer" who fought for Britain's independence from the EU.

The National Rally leader described the talks as preparations for governing.

And over lunch, according to The Spectator, Mr Farage told him he would instruct the Royal Navy to turn back small boats in the Channel - one of Reform's longest-held campaign promises...

READ THE FULL STORY HERE