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James Tapsfield

James Tapsfield, UK Political Editor

Covered British politics as part of the Lobby based at the Houses of Parliament since 2006, including five general elections, two referendums, eight Prime Ministers and a pandemic. Previously worked at the Press Association.

Coverage: UK Politics

MOST RECENT ARTICLES FROM JAMES TAPSFIELD

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Starmer branded 'John Terry' of politics as he jets into Middle East for Gaza peace plan signing - as US tries to cool tensions by saying UK DID help strike deal

13/10/25 07:43

Keir Starmer is in Egypt for a signing ceremony as the peace deal starts coming into operation. But Sir Keir has been accused of only coming for a 'photo op' after risking derailing the process by recognising Palestine as a state last month. Tories compared the premier to former Chelsea football star John Terry , who changed into full kit to lift the Champions League trophy despite not playing in the final. The Trump administration's Middle East envoy tried to cool tensions this morning after the US ambassador to Israel branded a Cabinet minister 'delusional' for suggesting the UK played a 'key role'. Steve Witkoff praised Britain's 'vital role' - singling out under-fire national security adviser Jonathan Powell for his 'incredible input'....read

Sir Keir Starmer arrives in Egypt ahead of the Middle East 'signing ceremony' - after Israel dismissed Britain's claims it played a 'key role' in deal
12/10/25 10:36
The PM is in the Arab Republic as one of approximately 20 world leaders who will attend a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday.
SNP leader John Swinney refuses to apologise for raising recognition of Palestinian state at Jewish vigil for Hamas victims
12/10/25 02:35
John Swinney was booed by a furious crowd as he spoke at an event at Holyrood to mark the second anniversary of the October 7 atrocities.
Nigel Farage suggests some new-build homes could be reserved for locals in holiday hotspots
12/10/25 01:10
Nigel Farage voiced interest in schemes reserving some new builds for those who are 'genuinely local' - although he stressed it was not Reform policy.
- 135 comments
- 14 shares
Rachel Reeves WILL axe two-child benefit while soaking the rich with £30bn of tax hikes, hints Cabinet minister with weeks to go until Budget
12/10/25 11:10
Bridget Phillipson said she was 'confident' the government will 'do the right thing' to tackle poverty amid a clamour from Left-wing MPs and Reform.
Badenoch bounce! Kemi sees poll ratings surge as she is rewarded for bold Tory conference vow on stamp duty
12/10/25 08:30
Kemi Badenoch electrified the gathering in Manchester last week as she promised to use revenue from slashing spending and benefits to do away with stamp duty.
- 930 comments
- 52 shares
Starmer has 'full confidence' in Blairite national security chief Jonathan Powell despite mounting fury at China spying case shambles
12/10/25 08:27
Cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson insisted the PM is still behind the key adviser as MPs demand answers.
- 421 comments
- 24 shares
Israel dismisses Britain's claims to have played a 'key role' in Donald Trump's Gaza peace deal as Starmer heads to Middle East for 'signing ceremony'
11/10/25 11:10
Keir Starmer is set to pay 'particular tribute' to the US President at a summit to mark the agreement starting to be implemented.
Labour 'considers bringing back mansion tax' in Reeves's Budget that could mean ordinary homeowners paying thousands of pounds every year
09/10/25 02:46
Kemi Badenoch put property taxes firmly on the agenda with the bold stamp duty pledge in her conference speech yesterday.
- 2270 comments
- 58 shares
Is the AI bubble about to burst? JP Morgan boss joins dire warnings from BoE and IMF about risk of stock market crunch
09/10/25 08:24
JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon said he was 'far more worried than others' about the risk of a serious correction.
- 430 comments
- 35 shares
Now ex-national security chief wades into China spying row saying Beijing IS a 'threat' and he can't 'understand' why case collapsed - as Starmer dodges again on what happened
09/10/25 07:40
Lord Mark Sedwill, who held the post when Theresa May was in No10, said it was obvious that Beijing constituted a 'threat'.
- 319 comments
- 40 shares
Badenoch vows to abolish stamp duty
08/10/25 12:09
Closing the Conservative conference in Manchester, Kemi Badenoch dropped the bombshell as she gave an impassioned response to fears the party is finished.
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Badenoch silences the Tory plotters as her 'bold' plan to ABOLISH stamp duty is hailed by Kirstie Allsopp and economists after barnstorming conference speech
08/10/25 10:18
Mrs Badenoch delivered a barnstorming rallying cry to Tories that culminated in a fresh pledge to ditch the hated purchase tax on family homes to revive the dream of ownership.
NHS faces spike in £20bn-a-year drugs bill as ministers 'cave' after Donald Trump threatens tariffs and pharma giants warn they will pull investment in UK
08/10/25 09:03
A deal is believed to be close to increase the 'value for money' threshold used by England's NHS spending watchdog by 25 per cent.
- 6 comments
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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch vows to abolish stamp duty in conference speech
08/10/25 09:00
Recap all the action from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester as Kemi Badenoch deliver her leaders speech on how to boost the UK economy.
- 109 comments
- 5 shares
'Let's take our country back': Robert Jenrick says Brits are 'fighting' decline, saying Tories must get behind 'collapse of the old order'
07/10/25 11:38
In his keynote speech to party conference, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said Brits were sick of decline and wanted to 'fight'.
Reform gloats over 20 Tory councillors defecting in humiliation for Kemi Badenoch on day three of conference
07/10/25 07:43
Touring broadcast studios at Conservative conference in Manchester, Kemi Badenoch played down a poll suggesting nearly two-thirds of members would support a pact.
Robert Jenrick defends saying he has not 'seen another white face' in Birmingham as he condemns lack of integration
07/10/25 06:03
Leaked audio of Robert Jenrick making the remark about Handsworth has surfaced as he prepares to give his speech to Tory conference.
Axe Net Zero levies to slash £165 off energy bills for Brits, say Tories
06/10/25 11:47
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho has backed axing the carbon tax and abolishing the 'racket' of wind farm subsidies.
- 257 comments
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China 'threatened to retaliate' if Labour classed it as an 'enhanced' risk as ministers face fresh questions over collapse of 'spying' case
06/10/25 09:03
The measures introduced this summer mean that 'agents' of other powers face criminal prosecution if they fail to disclose activities.
- 282 comments
- 28 shares
Tories vow to give young people £5k towards a first home (but only if they get a job) - while they also pledge to boost town centres by scrapping business rates for shops and pubs
06/10/25 07:06
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride unveiled the plan to 'reward work' in his speech to the Conservative conference in Manchester this morning.
- 2018 comments
- 85 shares
Kemi Badenoch condemns 'tolerance' of radical Islamism saying 'carnival of hatred' on Britain's streets must end
05/10/25 02:58
Opening Tory conference, Kemi Badenoch argued that protests amounting to 'carnivals of hatred' against Israel were being allowed on British streets.
Starmer's national security chief Jonathan Powell 'must face MPs to explain collapse of China spying trial' amid claims Blairite insisted Beijing would NOT be classed as an 'enemy'
05/10/25 11:27
Jonathan Powell is reported to have made clear that the Government would classify Beijing as a 'challenge' rather than an 'enemy' of the UK in evidence for the case.
- 521 comments
- 43 shares
Poll shows Starmer's 'fightback' Labour conference flopping, with Reform extending lead to 13 POINTS and PM's personal ratings at another low
05/10/25 07:55
Keir Starmer was seen as having given himself some breathing space from mutinous MPs and activists after ramping up attacks on Nigel Farage in Liverpool last week.
- 1932 comments
- 1221 shares
Kemi Badenoch tells anxious Tories 'we will get through this' as she admits party has 'paid a price' for not 'rushing out' policy like Reform - and vows Trump-style 'ICE' deportation drive
05/10/25 06:44
As Conservatives gather in Manchester, Kemi Badenoch acknowledged the party has 'paid a political price' for 'taking time' to draw up policy after the election meltdown.
Starmer says police are ramping up security at synagogues after attack
02/10/25 12:25
Keir Starmer is rushing back from Denmark to chair emergency meetings on the 'appalling' Manchester synagogue attack today amid warnings Jewish people no longer feel safe.
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Keir Starmer says police are ramping up security at synagogues after 'appalling' Manchester attack - as he cuts short Copenhagen summit to lead emergency response
02/10/25 10:20
Keir Starmer is rushing back from Denmark to chair emergency meetings on the 'appalling' Manchester synagogue attack today amid warnings Jewish people no longer feel safe.
Starmer only has 'breathing space' until May elections after Labour conference... as Budget looms, Cabinet 'revolts on digital ID push' and resentment festers over reshuffle
02/10/25 09:19
Ministers and activists publicly rallied round the PM at the gathering in Liverpool, as Keir Starmer tried to lift the mood with brutal barbs at Nigel Farage.
- 353 comments
- 43 shares
Keir Starmer struggles to show he IS serious about tackling immigration as he arrives in Denmark - where left-wing government has created 'hostile environment'
02/10/25 07:11
Keir Starmer is in the Danish capital - where the left-wing government has been openly creating a 'hostile environment' for new arrivals.
- 921 comments
- 28 shares
Starmer warns courts MUST get tougher on asylum claims with threat of 'summary execution' a genuine reason… but worse healthcare not enough
01/10/25 07:52
Keir Starmer said there was need to 'look again' at the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as other international treaties.
- 336 comments
- 10 shares
Now Keir Starmer blames BREXIT for Channel crisis and calls dinghies carrying migrants the 'Farage boats' but is forced to clarify that the Reform leader isn't 'personally racist'
01/10/25 07:17
Keir Starmer described Nigel Farage as 'formidable' amid a backlash at the aggressive stance in his address to the party faithful.
Now David Lammy is forced to apologise for hysterically accusing Nigel Farage of 'flirting with the Hitler Youth' in new low for Labour's 'racism' row with Reform
30/09/25 03:59
The Deputy Prime Minister went on live television to lash out at Mr Farage, after PM Keir Starmer used his main conference speech to hammer the opposition party.
Farage doesn't like Britain and is an 'enemy,' claims Starmer
30/09/25 03:19
Keir Starmer used his keynote speech to Labour conference in Liverpool to talk up the threat posed by Reform and draw deep dividing lines.
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Fury as children are dragged out of lessons to join militant teaching union's free school meals campaign at Labour conference
30/09/25 03:03
The National Education Union (NEU) was criticised for using children to hand out leaflets to conference attendees as part of their 'No Child Left Behind' drive.
- 130 comments
- 4 shares
Starmer is dangerously inciting the radical Left and is not fit to lead, blasts furious Farage in response to PM's he 'doesn't like Britain' attack
30/09/25 01:13
Keir Starmer used his keynote speech to Labour conference in Liverpool to talk up the threat posed by Reform and draw deep dividing lines.
Even Cabinet ministers fear Starmer is too BORING to revive Labour's electoral hopes after Sadiq Khan warns PM must ramp up 'storytelling'
30/09/25 12:02
The Prime Minister is under fire over his stolid leadership at a time when the party is trailing Reform and Sir Keir himself faces a crisis of popularity.
Ordinary Brits brace for '£30bn' Budget hit as Rachel Reeves 'reassures businesses they won't be targeted again to balance the books'
30/09/25 11:19
Rachel Reeves is said to have given assurances to executives about how the estimated £30billion black hole will be filled during private sessions at the Labour conference yesterday.
Streeting vetoes Treasury VAT raid on private health that could have hit millions of families as Rachel Reeves desperate struggles for ways to raise tax
30/09/25 09:39
Health Secretary Wes Streeting moved to crush the idea being mooted within government amid fears it would have hit eight million families.
Now Wes Streeting suggests Nigel Farage is 'racist' as Labour tears itself apart over 'divisive' attacks on Reform
30/09/25 09:13
Wes Streeting pointed to Reform leaflets targeting Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, suggesting he would 'prioritise the interests of the Pakistani community'.
Nigel Farage hits back after Keir Starmer claims Reform leader 'doesn't like Britain' - recap
30/09/25 08:32
RECAP: Follow the latest developments from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool where Sir Keir Starmer will make his keynote address as he bids to boost his ailing premiership.
- 1837 comments
- 386 shares
It's me or Farage! Struggling Starmer will bid to 'squeeze' mutinous Labour troops into getting behind him in crunch conference speech TODAY
30/09/25 08:12
Keir Starmer will use his keynote speech to party conference in Liverpool to talk up the threat posed by Reform - which is streets ahead in the polls.
Left's fury as Starmer backs Tony Blair to help run Gaza in extraordinary Trump 'peace plan'
30/09/25 07:30
Donald Trump named Tony Blair as a member of a new board that would run the territory if a ceasefire can be achieved between Israel and Hamas.
- 987 comments
- 82 shares
Crash and Burnham: Manchester mayor in full retreat as he says Keir Starmer is the best person to be PM despite previously fuelling claims he could mount a leadership challenge
29/09/25 04:11
The Greater Manchester mayor offered his backing to Sir Keir despite having previously fuelled speculation he was poised to mount a Labour leadership challenge.
Elections guru warns no way back for Starmer from record low polls - saying voters don't want a 'local plumber' as PM and nobody knows what he thinks
29/09/25 01:14
Professor John Curtice gave an apocalyptic assessment of Labour's situation in a briefing at the party's annual conference.
- 810 comments
- 76 shares
Reeves' Labour conference speech is interrupted by Gaza protest
29/09/25 11:50
Chancellor Rachel Reeves insisted she was going to keep taxes 'as low as possible' as Brits brace for more pain in her fiscal package on November 26.
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Brits on red alert for ANOTHER Labour tax bomb: No10 chief admits manifesto vows on income tax, NICs and VAT only stand 'today' as Reeves warns of Budget 'choices' over '£30bn' black hole
29/09/25 11:09
No10 enforcer Darren Jones hinted at pain to come as he insisted Labour's manifesto commitments still applied 'today' - but only because no decisions have been taken.
Sadiq Khan joins backlash over Starmer 'racism' jibe at Farage's immigration plans saying he would not use the 'loaded word'
29/09/25 09:49
Keir Starmer risked stirring a hornets' nest yesterday when he used the term to attack Reform's crackdown on so-called 'settled status'.
- 1881 comments
- 95 shares
Labour conference: Andy Burnham hits out at claims he is 'disloyal' after revealing MPs want him to challenge Keir Starmer
29/09/25 07:49
Recap all the action from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool where Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be among Cabinet minister giving speeches.
- 804 comments
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Rachel Reeves fuels fears over VAT raid and hints at tax rises AND spending cuts in Budget as she blames 'global headwinds' for economy stalling
29/09/25 06:58
Rachel Reeves said she had made a 'solemn promise' to stabilise the finances as she dodged on how she plans to fill an estimated £30billion gap in the government's books.
- 2207 comments
- 58 shares
Liverpool mayor says Andy Burnham could do a 'better job' as Labour leader than Keir Starmer - warning it will be 'difficult' for the PM to cling on unless things improve
28/09/25 11:41
Steve Rotheram stressed 'we have a PM at the moment' and 'we are supporting' Keir Starmer.
- 303 comments
- 37 shares
If you worry about migration Labour will call you racist, says Reform after Starmer's attack on plan to strip migrants of 'settled status'
28/09/25 09:16
Kicking off Labour 's conference in Liverpool, Keir Starmer risked inflaming public anger by using the term 'racist' to dismiss the policy of abolishing 'settled status'.
Labour's union paymasters threaten to pull funding unless Rachel Reeves imposes 'wealth tax' and demands she splurges 'trillions' on propping up industry
28/09/25 08:31
Unite is expected to try to force a vote on a levy - threatening to cut ties with the party unless the Chancellor's Budget next month shows a 'direction change'.
Floundering Starmer admits he's 'got to do more' as he kicks off crunch Labour conference with another huge poll showing Reform headed for power - and his ratings the worst EVER for a PM
28/09/25 06:42
Keir Starmer insisted he can 'pull this round' as another poll showed the party on track for disaster - with Reform poised to win a huge majority.
Immigration pushes UK population to 69.3m - up 755,300 in a year and the second-biggest rise since 1950
26/09/25 08:39
Numbers rose by 755,300 between mid-2023 and mid-2024 - the second-biggest annual increase since 1950.
- 907 comments
- 34 shares
Megapoll finds Nigel Farage on track for No10 as Labour crisis deepens: Reform could get 311 MPs at an election - with Labour losing more than 250 and the Tories slumping into FOURTH
26/09/25 07:39
Reform would make the biggest surge in British political history if an election was held now, according to the YouGov research.
Keir's immigration mea culpa: Labour has 'shied away' from toughening borders even it has been 'too easy' to enter the country and work illegally, PM admits
26/09/25 07:04
Keir Starmer delivered the mea culpa as he desperately tries to convince Brits that he is taking tough action on borders.
Starmer faces revolt by Labour MPs as he takes huge gamble on compulsory digital ID cards saying people cannot be 'squeamish' about tough rules
26/09/25 05:21
Keir Starmer confirmed the plans at a 'global progress' summit in London insisting it is an 'enormous opportunity' to get on top of illegal immigration.
Ex-Mossad chief backs 'wonderful' Tony Blair to run interim Gaza government if there is a ceasefire - with Trump aides 'on board'
26/09/25 12:56
In an extraordinary turn of events, the ex-PM is being touted for the job if a ceasefire is struck between Israel and Hamas.
Sadiq Khan brands Trump 'Islamophobic' after the US President trashed his 'terrible' record at the UN and claimed capital risks 'Sharia law'
24/09/25 11:17
Sir Sadiq Khan today described Donald Trump as 'racist, sexist, misogynistic and Islamophobic' after the US President called him a 'terrible mayor'.
Now Reeves is ready to spend billions 'scrapping two-child benefits cap' while lumbering working Britons with huge tax hikes to appease Labour left
24/09/25 10:54
Rumours are swirling at Westminster that Keir Starmer could signal a shift on the policy at party conference next week, as he desperately tries to placate mutinous MPs.
- 4075 comments
- 158 shares
Andy Burnham jibes at 'divisive' Starmer as he demands Labour lurch to the Left with huge nationalisation drive ahead of make-or-break party conference
24/09/25 09:18
Andy Burnham pitched a lurch to the Left in an interview, complaining that Keir Starmer's leadership was too 'factional' and lacked a plan.
- 814 comments
- 12 shares
Britain 'ready to act' after Trump backs shooting Russian planes
24/09/25 09:11
Yvette Cooper said the military alliance 'stands firm' following a series of 'provocative' violations of airspace by Vladimir Putin's forces.
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Minister insists 'highly talented' No10 chief Morgan McSweeney WON'T quit over 'hidden' £700k think-tank donations - as Starmer faces fresh questions over what he knew
24/09/25 07:38
The crisis engulfing Morgan McSweeney deepened after an email surfaced relating to an episode in which his think-tank was fined in 2021 for breaches of electoral law.
- 1830 comments
- 275 shares
Britain is 'ready to act' after Trump backed shooting down Russian planes that challenge Nato, Yvette Cooper warns
24/09/25 06:40
Yvette Cooper said the military alliance 'stands firm' following a series of 'provocative' violations of airspace by Vladimir Putin's forces.
- 1470 comments
- 32 shares
Trump slams Starmer's Net Zero push during UN speech
23/09/25 03:48
Donald Trump used a rambling speech at the UN to brand climate change 'the greatest con job ever'.
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Trump humiliates Starmer in UN speech as he slams UK's Net Zero push for windmills and solar panels - and says Labour is wasting 'tremendous' North Sea oil
23/09/25 03:24
Donald Trump used a rambling speech at the UN to brand climate change 'the greatest con job ever'.
Treasury 'frantically working on £30bn of tax hikes' for Budget as Labour think-tank backs pain for pensioners, extending stealth raid, and even hitting CHOCOLATE
23/09/25 02:10
The outlook seems to be darkening for Rachel Reeves as insiders admit the Office for Budget Responsibility is set to downgrade productivity estimates.
- 2404 comments
- 107 shares
OECD warns the UK faces the highest inflation in the G7 after Labour's tax raid as brutal Budget looms
23/09/25 10:01
Economists from the influential organisation also predicted that UK inflation will surge, with Britain experiencing the highest level among the G7 group of advanced economies this year.
- 1076 comments
- 77 shares
'Shapeshifter' Keir's latest buzz word: Labour hopes 'contribution' can finally give PM's floundering government direction amid Cabinet despair at lack of grip
23/09/25 08:45
An influential think-tank has been pushing the PM to adopt the term as a way of countering criticism about the government's lack of direction.
- 512 comments
- 12 shares
Hike income tax by 2p, extend hated 'stealth raid' by two more years… and hammer chocolate: Rachel Reeves' favourite think-tank urges nightmare £30bn Budget onslaught
22/09/25 11:01
The Resolution Foundation set out a painful series of increases in a new report likely to be studied closely by the Chancellor - despite recent warnings that firms can't take any more.
- 3102 comments
- 26 shares
Jubilant Palestinians raise flag at new London 'embassy'
22/09/25 12:06
Jubilant Palestinians raised the flag at the new 'embassy' in London today after the UK announced it will recognise the state's existence.
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Farage vows to force migrants out of UK by scrapping 'settled' status
22/09/25 11:34
Nigel Farage condemned legal permanent settlement for foreign nationals as a 'scam', warning it is a 'fiscal timebomb' which could bankrupt the country.
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No benefits for foreigners under Reform, says Nigel Farage: Stricter visa tests, language tests and deportation for those who fail under crackdown on 'settled status' migrants
22/09/25 10:08
Nigel Farage condemned legal permanent settlement for foreign nationals as a 'scam', warning it is a 'fiscal timebomb' which could bankrupt the country.
Britain's benefits culture is 'unhealthy' and they must be curbed, admit Labour as the areas where more than one in ten residents are on jobless hand-outs is revealed
22/09/25 09:35
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden hinted at tightening eligibility for universal credit.
- 2303 comments
- 82 shares
Jubilant Palestinians raise flag at new London 'embassy' - watched by Labour ministers - amid fury at UK 'rewarding terrorists' by recognising state
22/09/25 08:10
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian head of mission in the UK who is set to become the ambassador, hailed the bolstered status at a ceremony on Monday morning.
Desperate Chancellor hopes Gatwick expansion can help revive ailing economy… but second runway won't operate until 2029
22/09/25 07:15
Rachel Reeves has hailed the scheme getting the go-ahead from the government, saying it means 'thousands more jobs and billions more in investment'.
Minister dismisses Trump's advice to use military on Channel boats
19/09/25 03:34
Peter Kyle insisted UK Border Force were responsible for keeping the country's borders secure.
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Cabinet minister dismisses Trump's advice to use military to stop Channel boats - saying forces should be focused on 'really key issues around the world'
19/09/25 11:21
Peter Kyle insisted UK Border Force were responsible for keeping the country's borders secure.
Andy Burnham fuels Keir Starmer challenge rumours by refusing to commit to serving full term as Manchester mayor… as poll shows Labour support at lowest EVER
19/09/25 09:03
Andy Burnham failed to quash speculation about his plans in an interview as Keir Starmer struggles to stabilise the government.
- 2174 comments
- 76 shares
Brits shopping for clothes during sunny August boosts retailers after grim Spring
19/09/25 06:53
Retail sales volumes were up 0.5 per cent last month, slightly better than analysts had anticipated.
- 14 comments
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