Labour dismisses Reform UK MSP candidates as ‘hopeless Tory rejects and oddballs’ as one is suspended – as it happened

Stuart Niven suspended after revelations he was struck off as company director, while other candidates have been accused of extremist statements including describing Humza Yousaf as ‘not British’

UK borrowing costs hit highest since 2008 as markets expect up to three interest rate rises

Deficit rises unexpectedly to £14.3bn in February as stock markets slide amid fears that Iran war will escalate

Starmer’s ministers look at new economic blueprint to quell voter anger

Devolution of tax powers to mayors, scrapping of national insurance and property tax overhaul on report’s menu

‘Huge build-up of risk’: London’s centuries-old shipping industry wrestles with Iran war

Insurers at Lloyd’s of London say cover is available at a price, while merchants view the danger level as too high

China has been preparing for a global energy crisis for years. It is paying off now

As other Asian economies race to conserve energy, China has huge reserves of oil and gas as well as alternative energy sources like wind and solar

Bank of England tipped to raise UK interest rates twice this year to fight inflation shock from Middle East crisis, as oil and gas prices rise – as it happened

UK central bank has left rates on hold, and warned that CPI inflation will be higher in the near term as a result of the ‘new shock to the economy’ from Iran war

‘Doomsday scenario’: a visual guide to the oil and gas site attacks in the Middle East

Attacks on facilities by both sides in the conflict this week threaten grave consequences for the global economy

Prolonged high oil prices could ‘crimp’ AI boom, WTO warns

Iran war and its impact on energy and fertiliser costs is the main risk to the global economy, report says

BoE delivers message Britons don’t want to hear as inflation – and rates – look set to rise

Decision to hold interest rates is backed by gloomy assessment of economy as Iran war pushes up oil prices

Bank of England holds interest rates at 3.75% and signals rise is possible within months

Decision comes as concerns mount over economic fallout from Iran war bringing inflation shock

UK pay growth sinks to five-year low as younger workers hit by hiring slowdown

Unemployment holds steady, but Bank of England is unlikely to be convinced by ONS data to cut interest rates

Trump threatens to ‘blow up’ all of Iran’s South Pars gasfield if Tehran strikes Qatar

US president says ‘extremely important and valuable’ site will be targeted if Iran continues to attack Qatar facilities

Reeves’s speech had a giant hole: the sky-high cost of energy for industry

Businesses say the chancellor’s response to the problem is too timid and more radical thinking is needed

Starmer says Tory shadow minister should be sacked for criticism of Muslims praying in Trafalgar Square – as it happened

Nick Timothy said an event attended by the mayor of London that included prayers was an ‘act of domination’

Polanski positions Greens’ economic policy as radical alternative to Reeves

Offer to reform taxes, tackle ‘rip-off Britain’ and overhaul fiscal rules could tempt exasperated Labour supporters