Is the Labour leadership contest about to get messy and plunge the party into chaos?

Sam and Anne start the day expecting Wes Streeting to resign as health secretary to spark a contest, but a new intervention may have changed everyone's calculations.

Angela Rayner has said that an HMRC investigation into her tax affairs is over, paving a way for a challenge. But will she join the contest and can Andy Burnham find a way to enter the fray?

The duo analyse the developing situation and ask whether it will be straightforward or complex showdown with the PM.  

GDP, a key economic measure of everything produced in the economy, expanded 0.3% in March, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows.

Economists polled by Reuters news agency had predicted a contraction of 0.2%.

It came as production and construction held up well in the face of higher energy costs, as the Iran war led to oil and gas supply disruption. There had been fears that economic activity would be dampened by higher prices for people filling their cars or heating their homes with oil.

The March figures are also an increase on the month before, when GDP rose 0.4%.

There was also growth in the first three months of the year, with expansion of 0.6%, ONS data also showed on Thursday morning.

Why?

This was attributed to "broad-based" expansion in the services sector, the largest part of the UK economy, the ONS said.

Performing particularly well were computer programming and advertising, the ONS's director of economic statistics, Liz McKeown said.

The numbers are even better on a per-person basis, which removes the effect of population growth via immigration that can increase the headline GDP figure.

So-called GDP per capita is up 0.9% compared with the same time a year ago.

Getting political

Following the news, Chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared to caution against political instability and a possible leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"Now is not the time to put our economic stability at risk. To do so would leave families and business worse off," she said.

"Today's figures show the government has the right economic plan."

The government had repeatedly said growing the economy was its top priority.

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It follows a spate of violent incidents targeting Jewish communities, which has seen the terror threat level raised to "severe" for the first time in five years.

Writing in The New Statesman, Prince Harry referenced recent attacks against Jews in Manchester and London and called for people protesting about events in the Middle East to be more "clear" about where their anger is directed.

The stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, last month has brought renewed scrutiny – including from the government – of pro-Palestine marches.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the conduct of some people at the demonstrations constitutes "extreme racism".

He said police should prosecute anyone who chants "globalise the intifada".

"Intifada" means "uprising" in Arabic and refers to two Palestinian uprisings against Israel – first in the late 1980s and then the early 2000s. Thousands of people were killed, according to several estimates.

Prince Harry said while there is "deep and justified alarm" about the scale of death in Gaza and Lebanon, which have both faced bombardment from the Israeli military, "we have seen how legitimate protest against state actions in the Middle East does exist alongside hostility toward Jewish communities at home".

The duke, who does not mention Israel by name, added: "Nothing, whether criticism of a government or the reality of violence and destruction, can ever justify hostility toward an entire people or faith."

However, he also stressed the importance of "legitimate" criticism "when states act without accountability and in ways that raise serious questions under international humanitarian law".

Scottish Women's Aid has published a study on the scourge of coerced debt – where an abusive current or ex-partner builds up debt in their victim's name, either without consent or knowledge or through force, threat or coercion.

This research – believed to be the first focused insight into the problem in Scotland – revealed a "small but significant" number of women have been "pushed towards illegal money lenders, often due to extreme financial pressure".

Dr Jenn Glinski, author of the report and the national policy lead for economic abuse at Scottish Women's Aid, said: "Coerced debt is trapping women and children in abuse across Scotland.

"This report makes clear that it is not a side issue but a central part of how perpetrators exert control."

Abuse is 'widespread'

The report – commissioned by the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit and Trading Standards Scotland – described coerced debt as being a "hidden but widespread form of economic abuse".

It said such behaviour was a "common and deliberate tactic" used by perpetrators to trap women financially, restrict their choices and undermine their ability to leave or rebuild their lives.

The report added the women were having to "adopt financial survival strategies" to manage the debt, such as relying on family for financial assistance; going without essentials; selling possessions; taking on further debt; returning to their abusive partner; or engaging in unsafe or exploitative work.

It said "what survivors need is not short-term fixes but systemic change", as well as "understanding of economic abuse, recognition of coerced debt" and "survivor-centred debt relief".

Scottish Women's Aid is calling for a national campaign to raise understanding of economic abuse, financial abuse, and coerced debt.

In addition, the charity said economic abuse must be formally recognised as domestic abuse by justice authorities.

It also wants to see a Scottish coerced debt relief scheme introduced to help victims, which could "pause, reduce, or write off debts" owed to devolved public bodies, such as council tax and rent arrears, where they have arisen from domestic abuse.

Survivors 'held responsible' for debts

Dr Glinski added: "What is most concerning is that our systems are too often complicit and compound financial harm instead of providing support and solutions.

"They hold survivors responsible for debts created through abuse while failing to hold perpetrators to account.

"Economic justice for survivors means believing women, preventing further harm and ensuring they are not left to carry the financial burden of abuse. The costs of inaction are simply too high."

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Maureen Chalmers, chair of Trading Standards Scotland, said the report highlights that "illegal money lenders take advantage of people at their most vulnerable".

She added: "It is vital that we act against illegal lenders who target women facing coerced debt and economic abuse."

The Scottish government said it was "committed" to tackling violence against women and girls in all its forms and has invested £21.6m this year through its Delivering Equally Safe fund.

A spokesperson added: "In December 2025, we announced funding for the launch of a new national helpline, the Purple Phone, run by Financially Included to help women experiencing economic or financial abuse by their partner, and the Scottish government has committed to support this work until March 2028.

"This is alongside support for women and their children to leave an abusive partner through the Fund to Leave initiative. £2m has been allocated to it in 2026-27, which could help up to 2,400 women in Scotland."

If you are in need of support, call the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit on 0800 074 0878. You can also call the Purple Phone helpline on 0343 841 0132.

League leaders Hearts, just a point ahead of Celtic, travel to Glasgow on Saturday knowing anything other than a defeat will see them crowned champions for the first time in 66 years.

A triumph for Derek McInnes's team would also see the Scottish top-flight trophy lifted by a club other than Celtic or Rangers for the first time since 1985, when an Aberdeen side managed by Sir Alex Ferguson finished top.

The final-day showdown this weekend comes following a dramatic evening of action on Wednesday, with Hearts beating Falkirk 3-0 and Celtic overcoming Motherwell 3-2 courtesy of a controversial 99th-minute penalty.

Kelechi Iheanacho converted the spot-kick for the defending champions with the last kick of the game after a VAR check deemed that the ball had struck Motherwell midfielder Sam Nicholson's hand when a long throw was launched into the box.

The result means Martin O'Neill's side need a victory against Hearts at Celtic Park to secure a fifth straight league title, and their 56th overall – which would move them one ahead of their Old Firm rivals Rangers in the all-time standings.

The Hearts boss was incensed by Celtic's last-gasp penalty, telling Sky Sports the decision was "disgusting".

McInnes said: "There were two more shouts for a penalty kick at our game at Motherwell. If I'm Motherwell, I'm really disappointed with that having seen it again. I think it's so poor that they've [Celtic] been given that penalty.

"They've been very fortunate on that side of it."

McInnes added further fuel to Saturday's clash by claiming his side are "up against everything".

He added: "We're up against it, we're up against everybody... we need to just go and deal with the game on Saturday."

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Despite McInnes's remarks, his team's record against Celtic this season makes for good reading for Hearts fans.

In three meetings, Hearts have won two and drawn one, however Celtic come into the game in good form having picked up victories in their last six league outings.

Celtic have also reached the final of the Scottish Cup, meaning a domestic double remains on the cards for the Hoops.