Week in Business: Small glass of champagne for Reeves? May 15, 2025 There was some welcome economic growth in Q1 but it's in the rear view mirror; is there any on the horizon?
Labour’s National Wealth Fund hounded with calls for clarity May 15, 2025 Labour’s National Wealth Fund (NWF) faced renewed pressure on Wednesday as the Treasury Committee kicked off its inquiry into the new body. The NWF’s ability to boost economic growth across the country was the subject of questions posed by MPs to investment industry leaders. Its status as a “wealth fund” came under fire against comparisons [...]
UK has one Europe’s biggest nanny states May 15, 2025 The UK has one of the biggest nanny states in Europe, a new study has found. The report from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the European Policy Information Centre, titled the Nanny State Index 2025, said that the UK has the 7th biggest nanny state in Europe. Edited by Dr Christopher Snowdon, head [...]
UK dismisses Chinese concerns on trade May 14, 2025 The UK government has rejected Chinese criticism of its newly-inked US trade deal, in an effort to allay worries that ties between the world’s second largest economy and Britain would deteriorate. Labour have said that China’s economy was not being intentionally “undermined” in the deal, which saw tariffs on steel fall to zero per cent [...]
Starmer: Unemployment jump not caused by my government May 14, 2025 The Prime Minister has denied the 10 per cent rise in unemployment since last year’s election is the fault of his government, arguing that the recently struck trade deals with India and the United States will boost jobs and the UK economy. During a fiery exchange at Prime Minister’s Questions, Keir Starmer accused Kemi Badenoch [...]
Labour’s regional growth plan sees 12,000 civil servants moved outside London May 14, 2025 The government is on a mission to relocate 12,000 civil servant jobs across the UK to save taxpayers money — to the tune of £94m a year by 2032. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden told the BBC this morning he hopes relocating civil servants “will make this government one that better reflects the country it [...]
Business Secretary can’t commit to lower energy costs in industrial strategy May 14, 2025 Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was unable to confirm whether the government’s upcoming industrial strategy will include a roadmap to lower industrial energy costs and help for businesses wrestling with high prices. Reynolds faced questions from MPs on the Business and Trade committee yesterday over whether he could guarantee lower costs for industry. He told the [...]
UK jobs markets suffers a fainting fit…will the patient get worse? May 14, 2025 We now know that since the start of the year the number of payrolled employees in the UK has fallen by around 100,000 – adding to the emerging narrative that when it comes to employment, things are going in the wrong direction. Fewer people employed, fewer vacancies and fewer jobs likely to be created. The [...]
Home Secretary defends PM’s immigration speech after backlash May 13, 2025 The Home Secretary has defended the Prime Minister’s choice of language after he received criticism for claiming that the UK risked becoming “an island of strangers” without major reform to the immigration system. Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who was suspended from Labour after voting against welfare reforms, posted on X: “Talk of an “island [...]
New immigration plans could reverse the UK’s tech exodus May 13, 2025 The UK government’s recently unveiled immigration white paper has triggered cautious optimism across the tech sector, as policymakers aim to reverse a talent bottleneck that many say has long stifled innovation and growth. As part of a broader industrial strategy targeting sectors like AI, quantum, and green tech, the paper outlines steps to widen access [...]