Is the motor finance scandal making City banks trim the fat? March 18, 2026 The motor finance scandal is reshaping the banking sector, in this week’s column Samuel Norman takes a look at how lenders are responding. In the fallout of the multi-billion pound motor finance scandal, bank bosses are getting their house in order. The landmark saga, which began with the UK’s financial watchdog’s review into the market [...]
Britain’s problem isn’t too few ministers, it’s too much government March 17, 2026 A little scrutinised bill will allow the government to put even more ministers on the payroll, laments Eliot Wilson Yesterday, behind the impenetrable shield of public indifference, the House of Commons will take all stages of the Ministerial Salaries (Amendment) Bill. It was introduced without fanfare on Thursday 5 March and received the ritual First [...]
Trump is in need of a scapegoat – look out Keir Starmer March 17, 2026 Per the Trump playbook, the US President will promptly be in search of a scapegoat over Iran. Starmer better prepare, writes Michael Martins.
Why this oil shock isn’t like the last one March 17, 2026 The new surge in oil prices will be shaped more by political responses than by monetary policy, due to a crucial shift in the economic backdrop from the tight labor markets of 2022 to the current looser conditions, says Helen Thomas This week, six major central banks meet in quick succession, including the big four: [...]
Domestic oil and gas are Britain’s best defence in the global energy crisis March 17, 2026 The conflict in Iran has highlighted the fragility of global supply chains and the necessity of energy self sufficiency, says Martin Copeland It has been just over two weeks since the US and Israel commenced military action in Iran, with acute consequences for energy, international trade and potentially the global economy. Normally, about 20 per [...]
Today’s the day we finally get to hear the Chancellor’s plans for growth March 17, 2026 GDP growth in November was 0.2 per cent. It slipped to 0.1 per cent in December and we now know that by the end of January it had withered to zero. The British economy recorded no growth in the first month of this year. It was only a monthly reading and it may be revised [...]
Britain needs practical ideas to fix the housing crisis March 17, 2026 Prosper UK is bringing together a group of experts with a proven track record of delivery to try to solve the housing crisis, says Gavin Barwell If you were making a list of long-standing public policy failures in this country, housing would be right near the top. We haven’t built enough homes for at least [...]
‘What do they have to hide?’ Ministers must not scrap regulatory watchdog March 16, 2026 The Regulatory Policy Committee keeps a close eye on government red tape, and scrapping it would be a serious mistake – says Andrew Griffith. Red tape is strangling British business. A survey just out from the Federation of Small Businesses has found small firms and entrepreneurs collectively spend 379 million hours a year complying with [...]
Scrap inheritance tax! March 16, 2026 Inheritance tax is burdensome, distortionary and barely raises any revenue. Get rid of it now says Kristian Niemietz If you work in Westminster, you treat protest marches as part of the background noise. I have been working in SW1 since the late-stage Gordon Brown era, and I have certainly seen my fair share of those [...]
New satellite rules could prove catastrophic for UK business March 16, 2026 Satellite interference rules are being rewritten. The risks for defence and UK business interests could be catastrophic, writes Mark Allatt.