UK economy unexpectedly grows 0.4% in July boosted by AI

Welcome boost for chancellor with unexpected rise put down to rapid growth of AI in services sector outweighing Iran war fallout

Friday briefing: Would a wealth tax save our public services or be billionaire repellent?

In today’s newsletter: Some think taxing the super-rich is a moral obligation, others say it drives cash away from the country. The truth may be somewhere in the middle

Chancellor urged to fix £100k childcare ‘cliff edge’ that prompts parents to cut work

Threshold pushes some to reduce hours or stop working to avoid losing entitlement, report warns

Burnham urged to tackle inequality with policies including wealth tax

Key thinkers suggest other radical measures in Compass report such as free personal social care and abolishing Lords

UK government pays highest interest rate on 30-year bond since 1998

High yields threaten to wipe out at least half of the £24bn headroom John Healey was expecting to have for his budget

Majority of Tory and Reform voters do not back cuts to disability benefits, survey finds

Nearly half of respondents say spending on personal independence payments should be increased

Policing minister makes statement on ‘intimidating and thuggish’ anti-migrant protests – as it happened

Sarah Jones tells MPs ‘those responsible should expect to face the consequences’

Chancellor to argue UK economy can ‘turn corner’ despite bond market turmoil

John Healey speech on Monday will stress links between fiscal discipline and growth amid concerns his cautious approach jars with Burnham’s radical plans

Burnham talks of radical change, but Treasury mood music says otherwise

Bond market volatility means John Healey will have to take tough decisions, soon, if he wants to meet spending pledges

‘The chancellor is in a bind’: is No 11 at odds with Burnham’s big vision?

MPs applaud PM’s ambition and optimism but John Healey has yet to show he can match leader’s radical perspective

John Healey warns of tough first budget as Middle East war puts pressure on economy

Chancellor says he wants to ensure country has ‘buffer’ against uncertainty as global bond yields hit 18-year high

Kemi Badenoch condemns Reform UK’s ‘authoritarian’ press bans

Tory leader says Nigel Farage’s party would seek to abuse state power, as she also defends her housing benefit plans

Burnham beware, the bond markets will demand proper answers in the budget

Fair to say the current sell-off is international, but the PM has said little yet to make investors rethink the UK’s status

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