The Latest Breaking News from Whitehall

Scrapping two-child benefit cap is among levers Rachel Reeves could pull – yet chancellor remains silent on ‘shameful’ levels of poverty

When the pharma firm cancelled plans for a major expansion of its Merseyside plant last month, there was no shortage of questions – or blame – over responsibility

Angus Lapsley is reportedly set to take on the prestigious role despite lingering security concerns

Emission targets could derail project as campaigners say net zero commitment cannot be met if expansion happens

COMMENT: Allies insist that, after a gloomy start in the job, the chancellor had long planned to shift up a gear – but her announcement of a third Heathrow runway and a ‘Silicon Valley’ from Oxford to Cambridge felt suspiciously like someone in a hurry to correct her own mistakes,…

Exclusive: Pilots for staff training, jobcentres and speeding up disability benefit payments not being taken up

There is a new restlessness in Treasury and No 10, but some ministers fear forceful approach may signal panic

By sweeping aside everyone from local planners to defenders of the green belt, Labour is handing a gift to Reform UK, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

Chancellor says new scheme aims to bridge gap between Whitehall and local leaders to avoid previous top-down approach