Reform UK’s fiscal plans could spark ‘Sterling crisis’, economist warns Politics Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has hinted at ambitions to become chancellor if his party wins the next general election. What does this mean for the UK’s finances? Simon French, an economist at Panmure Liberum who has advised the government, estimates that Reform UK’s plans would leave the UK with an “immediate” fiscal gap [...]
Tax fraud: HMRC ramps up dawn raids in crackdown According to the law firm Pinsent Masons, HMRC carried out an average of 12 property searches each week last year, as the campaign against tax evasion intensified and the government tax body became “increasingly proactive.” In the year ending March 2024, the government tax body carried out 648 dawn raids, up from 623 raids in 2022/23. [...]
Sunday Times Rich List sport: Beckham, Ratcliffe, West Ham United Sport Business A host of Premier League football club owners dominate the sporting names in this year’s Sunday Times Rich List. Both current and former owners of some of the Premier League’s biggest club make the annual fortune list. Newcastle United co-owners the Reuben brothers and Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe each make the top 10, [...]
Natwest and Lloyds to rake in millions from a ring-fencing shakeup May 16, 2025 Natwest and Lloyds are set for a major cash bump if Chancellor Rachel Reeves rips up the ring-fencing regime imposed on lenders, fresh data shows. FTSE 100 banking giants have lobbied the Chancellor to axe the system, which they described as a “drag on banks”. The bosses of HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest and Santander slammed the [...]
Newcastle United and Fulham warned by Gambling Commission May 16, 2025 Newcastle United and Fulham are among five football clubs who have been warned by the Gambling Commission over sponsorship deals with unlicensed betting company TGP Europe. TGP Europe, a white-label operator for more than 30 gambling websites including Fun88 and SBOTOP, has surrendered its UK licence after being fined £3.3m for breaching regulations. The clubs [...]
The Punk Patissiere – Sanji Parvee May 16, 2025 What makes a ‘good’ cupcake? If we’re speaking technically, it’s the fluffiness of the sponge, the silky smoothness of the frosting, and a perfectly flat top. But we don’t just settle for good down the Lane. Oh no. We’re striving for greatness, an unforgettable edible experience, and for that you need to “trigger a memory. [...]
Man United owner Ratcliffe sees fortune plummet £6.5bn May 16, 2025 Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has seen his fortune plummet by £6.5bn in just one year. The latest edition of the Sunday Times Rich List sees the Brit drop to seventh with an estimated wealth of £17bn, down £6.47bn on his fortune last year. He’s been jumped by Sir James Dyson, Israeli businessman Idan [...]
One in ten Brits have no cash savings, City regulator says May 16, 2025 One in ten Brits do not have any cash savings, the City regulator has warned, concerning signs that hundreds of thousands of people could be unable to cover emergency bills. New research by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has also suggested that a fifth of people have less than £1,000 available to draw on The [...]
Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes to cost Timpson £12m extra a year May 16, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget tax hikes are set to cost the business empire of fellow government minister Lord James Timpson £12m extra a year, it has been revealed. The Manchester-headquartered group said the increases in employer’s National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage will eat into its earnings in the years to come. [...]
Landsec boosts profit amid residential and retail pivot May 16, 2025 Property investment group Land Securities – known as Landsec – has reported a five per cent boost amid a strategic repositioning of the firm’s commercial property portfolio in favour of residential and retail property. Profit before tax rose to £395m from £341m, as the group plans to invest £1bn in retail and more than £2bn [...]