How to win friends and influencers: Labour’s new social media strategy is a step into the future

There was a backlash when No 10 invited online content creators inside its doors. But in a fast-changing media landscape, this solves two problems at once, says deputy Opinion editor Kirsty Major

Art and antiques help lift retail sales in Great Britain to biggest monthly rise since 2024

January increase of 1.8% beats forecasts and was also driven by shoppers snapping up jewellery online

UK reports record-breaking budget surplus of £30.4bn in surprise boost for Rachel Reeves

Largest January total since records began in 1993 is sharp reversal from December’s £11.6bn deficit

Global Counsel calls in administrators, blaming Peter Mandelson ‘maelstrom’

Advisory firm has lost string of clients despite efforts to cut ties with co-founder after Epstein revelations

‘Made in Europe’ EU industrial strategy could hit supply chains, UK minister warns

Nick Thomas-Symonds says move could also create unnecessary UK-EU trade barriers and increase costs

Rights groups urge airlines to halt ‘one in, one out’ deportation flights

British and French activists write to Air France, AlbaStar, Titan and Corendon airlines over ‘shameful involvement’

MPs in call to halt Drax’s £2m-a-day subsidy over sustainability doubts

Exclusive: Cross-party group ‘deeply concerned’ power plant may have misled ministers and regulators over source of wood pellets

If Keir Starmer is ousted, Labour could still win the next election. Here’s how that would work

Once a PM is seen as hapless, there is no way back. But Labour has good plans – and with the political landscape fragmented, it could yet prevail, says Guardian columnist Larry Elliott

Ministers must end ‘barking mad’ restraints on civil service pay, union leader warns

Exclusive: Prospect boss Mike Clancy cites problems retaining technical and digital experts

‘Grace period’ needed for dual nationals returning to UK on second passport, say Lib Dems

Will Forster MP says ‘lack of planning and haphazard communication’ on new border rules has caused chaos

UK politics: Starmer says Reform’s pledge to restore two-child benefit cap in full is ‘shameful’ – as it happened

Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick has announced party’s plans to cut welfare spending

Reform UK would restore two-child benefit cap, Jenrick says in policy U-turn

Treasury spokesperson says disability benefits would also be limited under Reform, but Bank of England would stay independent

Ministers may slow youth minimum wage rise amid UK unemployment fears

Government considering delay to equalising national minimum wage after jump in youth unemployment

Training more Britons may not cut net migration or plug skills shortages, study finds

Local workers can be difficult to attract because of poor pay and conditions, say researchers

Boost to British Steel as Turkey places high-speed rail order

‘Eight-figure agreement’ made to supply new line between Ankara and İzmir – but questions over plant’s future remain