ISA reform could bring £16bn into UK equities each year November 4, 2025 The government could bring a much-needed boost to UK markets with one simple, tax-neutral measure, argues Richard Staveley, manager of UK small-cap investment trust Rockwood Strategic. ISAs are undoubtedly much loved in the UK, with more than 22m accounts and around £775bn in total assets, which exceeds the amounts saved into defined contribution pension schemes. [...]
Young people plot a path for progress November 4, 2025 The Notebook is where the City’s movers and shakers have their say, today it’s Ella Robertson McKay with the pen This week, I’m in Munich, running the One Young World Summit – a gathering of over 2,200 young leaders, entrepreneurs, and activists from more than 190 countries. It’s the world’s most international forum dedicated to [...]
Blue Whale’s Stephen Yiu: save the London Stock Exchange by spinning it off November 4, 2025 An open letter to Rachel Reeves from Stephen Yiu, CEO of Blue Whale Capital Dear Chancellor, Your ambition to unlock long-term investment for British enterprise is the correct one. But that ambition is being directly undermined by a deep, structural flaw at the very heart of the City. The flow of growth capital to our [...]
Britain can lead the electric air taxi revolution November 4, 2025 Flying taxis are set to revolutionize travel, making zero-emission, quiet, low-cost short-haul journeys a reality, and Britain can lead the way, says Dómhnal Slattery Britain once defined the future of flight, leading most of the major advances in aviation. The Spitfire, the Mosquito, the Comet and Concorde were not just machines, but symbols of ingenuity [...]
Why your businesses fell for the AI inclusion illusion – and what it’s going to cost you November 4, 2025 The purpose of generative AI is to generate the most statistically likely output. In human terms, that means mediocrity at scale, not diversity, says Paul Armstrong Corporate diversity has turned into performance art. Generative AI now makes accessibility look effortless as captions appear automatically, transcripts compile themselves and summaries glow with the language of clarity. [...]
Labour’s assault on jobs will undermine growth November 4, 2025 Rachel Reeves is engaged in a complicated dance with the Office for Budget Responsibility in the run up to her second Budget. When the fiscal watchdog presents its scorecard on the Chancellor’s plans – and on wider government policies – the music will stop and we’ll see whether Reeves pulls off a surprising lift, or [...]
Farage’s speech was light on detail, but his instincts are right November 3, 2025 For all its “rabble-rousing” flourishes, Nigel Farage’s speech showed he understands that the City isn’t a London vanity project, it’s the bedrock of the entire UK economy, says Matthew Bowles Britain’s economic situation is hard to sugar-coat. Taxation is at some of the highest levels since Attlee’s day, and parts of the British economy are [...]
Britain must stop dithering over digital finance November 3, 2025 Crypto and stablecoins are now mainstream. The race to set the rules is already on – and it’s being run in dollars, not pounds, says Kulveer Ranger Last week in Washington DC, I was reminded that while the United States may not have all the answers on digital assets, it is already writing the questions [...]
Abolish regressive, outdated stamp duty November 3, 2025 Stamp duty abolition isn’t just desirable it’s an economic necessity, says Alex Michelin Ask any first-time buyer, young family or downsizing pensioner what’s stopping them from moving home and you’ll hear the same answer: Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). This once marginal transaction cost has evolved into a structural impediment to the UK housing market, [...]
Is Nigel Farage right about Bank of England independence? November 3, 2025 Nigel Farage’s economic policies are neurasthenically inconsistent, but he has opened the door to a debate we need to have about whether Gordon Brown’s settlement for the Bank of England is fit for purpose, says Eliot Wilson Nigel Farage is a practised veteran at grabbing the headlines with a provocative-sounding but ultimately empty remark. Speaking [...]