Inheritance tax: Ministers urged to ‘do right thing’ ahead of farming summit February 25, 2025 The government is being urged to “do the right thing” over its plan to bring in inheritance tax for farm businesses worth more than £1m, following months of protests by farmers. Ministers are being encouraged to “reset” their relationship with Britain’s farmers, ahead of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) conference on Tuesday. President Tom Bradshaw [...]
UK legal sector ‘open for business’, with new Arbitration Act, minister says February 24, 2025 The UK is “open for business” as the new Arbitration Act received royal assent, the courts and legal services minister has said. The new law, which is aiming to boost the UK ranking in modern dispute resolution and attract international business, passed the final legislative hurdle today [Monday]. It aims to make arbitration fairer and [...]
Sanctions: Kremlin-linked oligarchs hit by UK regime on ‘grim milestone’ of war February 24, 2025 The UK is extending its sanctions regime against Russia as it marks the “grim milestone” of the third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Ministers have unveiled the largest sanctions package against Russia since 2022, with 107 new sanctions targeting Russian military supply chains, third-country supporters and revenue and profits fuelling the war chest and [...]
Ukraine: Russia ‘does not hold all the cards’, Starmer tells Kyiv conference February 24, 2025 Keir Starmer has insisted “Russia does not hold all the cards in this war” to a conference in Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Prime Minister has promised further “sweeping sanctions” to push the Russian president towards concessions in peace talks and called for a US backstop [...]
German elections: Merz signals need for ‘independence’ from US February 24, 2025 Friedrich Merz, who is set to become the new German chancellor, has vowed to prioritise European unity and “independence” from the US. The snap German election, which saw the Conservative CDU/CSU alliance win with 28.6 per cent of the vote, came as Europe grapples with US President Donald Trump and Russia’s war on Ukraine. Merz, [...]
Jonathan Reynolds relaunches trade deal talks with India February 24, 2025 The UK has relaunched talks on a free trade deal with India, with Jonathan Reynolds in New Delhi to resume negotiations. The business and trade secretary begins refreshed discussions with his Indian counterpart commerce minister Piyush Goyal in the South Asian capital today (Monday, February 24), marking a new phase of negotiations between the world’s [...]
Defence spending: 2.5 per cent of GDP is ‘ambitious,’ minister says February 23, 2025 Raising UK defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national income is “ambitious”, a cabinet minister has insisted as the government faces pressure to increase investment. It comes amid uncertainty over the future of the war in Ukraine, as the US began negotiations with Russia, excluding Kyiv from talks. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson sought to [...]
Payments regulator reportedly could be scrapped as No10 slashes red tape February 23, 2025 The UK’s payments regulator could be scrapped and folded into another regulator as part of efforts by No10 to slash red tape, according to Sky News. Ministers are mulling whether to abolish the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and amalgamate it into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the broadcaster has reported. A decision could come within [...]
UK to unveil new Russia sanctions to mark three years of Ukraine war February 23, 2025 The UK will unveil new sanctions to “turn the screws” on Russia as it marks three years since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. David Lammy said he would announce the sanctions, which he called the largest package of measures since the early days of the conflict, on Monday to coincide with the anniversary. The foreign secretary [...]
Starmer to set date to increase defence spending during Trump visit – report February 23, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer is expected to confirm a timeline to raise defence spending and give Donald Trump an invitation for a state visit when he visits Washington next week, per a report. The Prime Minister will have to walk a tricky line when he meets President Trump, balancing the UK’s support for Ukraine with the [...]