UK politics: Andy Burnham pressed on borrowing costs and spending at first PMQs – as it happened Burnham faced questions from Kemi Badenoch and other MPs amid speculation over budget
Taxing the banks: what Europe’s windfall levies brought in as Burnham eyes his next move Ahead of a crucial budget, four countries’ experiments offer a mixed verdict on how to tax bumper profits
Private equity keeps picking off London-listed firms – and Westminster barely notices Bodycote is the latest FTSE 250 industrial company set to fall to an overseas bidder, despite the government’s talk of ‘reindustrialising’
UK long-term borrowing costs could halve chancellor’s budget headroom Yield on 30-year gilts highest since 1998 as rout triggered by global factors underlines tricky backdrop John Healey faces
Any ideas, anyone? Healey asks for budget pitches from apprentices and IT staff Chancellor opens up brainstorming to Treasury staff of all levels, and says some will be asked to pitch to him in person
Andrew Griffith and Tom Tugendhat join Badenoch’s top team in Tory reshuffle Conservative leader sacks shadow chancellor Mel Stride and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel
Tax promises, defence targets and Iran: Andy Burnham’s budget headaches As economic circumstances worsen, the PM’s commitments have left him and the chancellor in a tight spot
Fed chair says delivering ‘stable prices’ is central bank’s job as inflation persists However, Kevin Warsh didn’t say if interest rates would change in coming months, as inflation remains stubborn
Healey’s budget to duck setting a date for 3% defence spending target Roadmap for increasing department’s share of GDP will be deferred until next year’s review
The Guardian view on energy costs: vulnerable households need help with their bills Editorial: Soaring prices are plunging struggling families into debt. The government must support them in the short term as it invests in a clean energy future
No more UK energy bills support likely before price cap rise Andy Burnham stops short of pledging further help as gas and electricity prices due to increase by 4% in October
UK reports unexpected deficit of £1.8bn as John Healey prepares for first budget July data shows total public debt was £2.98tn, or 94% of GDP – up £96bn on a year earlier
Reform’s new economic adviser has called for end of pensioners’ triple lock Exclusive: Mitchell Palmer has also argued for privatising the NHS and immigration as way of cutting poverty
Can Andy Burnham rewire the ‘Treasury brain’ to boost growth? PM wants to reduce department’s stranglehold on public purse and bring long-term thinking to economic policy
Rising inflation underlines scale of Andy Burnham’s cost of living challenge PM’s plan to shield households from more pressure risks being overwhelmed by wider price rises