Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 6h

Whoops! Seems the ONS has overestimated govt borrowing by £3bn. Rare bit of good news for Rachel Reeves.

Story by @guardianheather.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Rachel Reeves given extra £3bn for budget after VAT error fixed

ONS says public borrowing estimates have been out by £200m-£500m a month since January

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 3d

EXC: Rachel Reeves will announce more changes to the planning system before the budget. But ministers are rowing about how far to go on this major part of govt policy.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Ministers to announce significant changes to UK’s planning system

Exclusive: Differences over changes to environmental and legal provisions to prompt economic growth hint at chaos at heart of government

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 4d

EXC: BBC bosses looking to tap defence budget to pay for the world service.

Story with @michaelsavage.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...

BBC bosses want defence budget to help pay for the World Service

Exclusive: Executives at corporation say media monitoring and anti-disinformation are vital to national security

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Kiran Stacey

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 7d

EXCL: Rachel Reeves is set to lift the two-child benefit limit in the budget with officials exploring options of a new tapered system.

The Treasury is exploring if it might instead be limited to three or four children – or whether there could be a tapered rate.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Rachel Reeves to lift two-child benefit cap in November’s budget

Exclusive: Officials exploring options to change rule that affected 1.7 million children in Great Britain last year UK politics live – latest updates

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 10d

A reminder about tomorrow's live Politics Weekly podcast recording with Andy Burnham in Liverpool.

If you're here for Labour conference, or are just local and have an interest in politics, make sure you come along - no booking needed!

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Reposted by Kiran Stacey

Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 11d

Monday 2-3 along with @uclpolicylab.bsky.social we'll also be hosting @theguardian.com politics weekly with
@pippacrerar.bsky.social and @kiranstacey.bsky.social as they hold an in conversation with @andyburnham.bsky.social

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 12d

Massive thanks to UCL and More in Common for helping make this happen.

Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 12d

Come!

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 12d

Just turn up!

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 12d

Politics Weekly is going live!

Come see us record a live podcast in Liverpool on Monday, with a very special guest: Andy Burnham.

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 13d

EXC: Ed Miliband is looking at a number of ways to encourage more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, including granting licences to companies to explore previously-abandoned fields.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Ed Miliband looking into more North Sea drilling despite Labour pledge

Exclusive: Energy secretary examining ways to allow oil and gas exploration without breaking manifesto promise

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 15d

EXC: Britain worries Trump could retaliate against Palestinian recognition by recognising illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

By me, @patrickwintour.bsky.social tour and Andrew Roth

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

British officials fear Donald Trump could recognise Israeli West Bank settlements

Government insiders say move would be a serious blow to prospect of a two-state solution

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 18d

Fascinating insight into the Starmer-Burnham relationship from @jessicaelgot.bsky.social and @pippacrerar.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 19d

Great story this morning by @rowenamason.bsky.social.

Reform has taken £100,000 from an interior design company which had no contact details on its website and used stock images to illustrate its projects. HMRC has tried to wind it up.

Very odd.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Reform UK receives £100,000 donation from design firm that faced winding-up petition

Exclusive: Interior Design Landscape, which faced closure by HMRC early this year, made donation in June

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 22d

Just jealous really

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 22d

You're just saying that because she namechecked you 100 times.

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 22d

Very interesting revelation in
@kitty-donaldson.bsky.social's evening newsletter:

Andrew Gwynne, one of the MPs rumoured to be thinking of standing down to make way for Andy Burnham, has applied to the Commons authorities to retire on medical grounds.

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 28d

NEW: Labour’s recently-departed comms chief helped write the party’s manifesto - while he was still working for TikTok.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Labour comms director helped write manifesto while still working at TikTok

Exclusive: James Lyons rewrote 2024 election pledges ‘over evenings and weekends’ before his exit from social media company

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · Sep 4

BREAKING: Angela Rayner's conveyancer issues this statement:

"My firm does not deal with trusts or offer tax advice. The Stamp Duty Land Tax as calculated using the HMRC calculator and was strictly based on the facts and information provided to us."

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · Sep 4

EXC: Angela Rayner used a small family conveyancing firm based in Kent to buy her flat in Hove.

Though she also consulted two trust law specialists before underpaying her stamp duty.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Angela Rayner used family conveyancing firm to buy tax row flat

Exclusive: Experts say small firms offering general legal services may not be equipped to deal with ownership of properties held in trust

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Kiran Stacey

John Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · Sep 3

Yes it's this week's Politics Weekly UK, with me, @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social & @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Flags, flats and Labour in trouble (again) – podcast

It’s the first week back after summer recess and Labour is already in trouble, with the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, referring herself to the standards watchdog over underpaying tax on her fl...

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · Sep 3

This is the essential problem with Angela Rayner's tax affairs. In a way, it's not actually that complicated:

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · Sep 3

Confused by the Angela Rayner tax saga? Don't worry we've got you covered:

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Angela Rayner flat controversy: how did it happen and how damaging is it?

Key questions answered after deputy PM acknowledges failing to pay enough stamp duty on £800,000 property

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · Sep 3

After our overnight story saying Angela Rayner might still have to pay additional stamp duty on her £800,000 Hove flat, she confirmed that that is indeed the case:

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Angela Rayner admits underpaying stamp duty on £800,000 seaside flat

Deputy PM refers herself to ethics adviser as confirmation puts her position under threat

www.theguardian.com

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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · Sep 3

They're not random, they are tax experts who are able to analyse information that has been released publicly. There is v good reason to think Rayner should have classified her Hove property as an additional dwelling.

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