‘Unsustainable’ sickness benefits cost UK more than defence, Lords warn January 20, 2025 The UK is spending more on “financially unsustainable” sickness benefits than defence, and “urgent” reform to the welfare system is needed to rein in costs, a group of Lords has said. In a letter to the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, the cross-party Lords Economic Affairs committee said the current benefits system penalises people [...]
Starmer’s value for money office might be a waste of money, MPs warn January 20, 2025 Keir Starmer’s new value for money office might be a waste of money, an influential group of MPs have warned in a sceptical report. The newly-established Office for Value for Money (OVfM), which Labour pledged to set up ahead of the election, is supposed to improve government competitiveness and crackdown on waste. But concerns have [...]
Rachel Reeves’s trip to China and Tulip Siddiq’s resignation | What’s the Context? January 17, 2025 City AM's Opinions and Features Editor Alys Denby shares her thoughts on Rachel Reeves's trip to China and TuliIp Sidiq's resignation.
‘Here for the long haul’: Reeves defends her position after market turmoil January 17, 2025 Rachel Reeves has insisted she is “here for the long haul” as she defended her position as Chancellor in the wake of bond market turmoil and rising government borrowing costs. The UK’s Chancellor has faced criticism for embarking on a trip to China last weekend while government borrowing costs surged and the value of the [...]
The Week in Business, with Christian May: anyone got any growth ideas? January 17, 2025 This week, City AM Editor Christian May looks at the government's search for growth and asks whether the UK's army of regulators are best placed to help.
Kemi Badenoch: Tories could means test state pension triple-lock January 17, 2025 Kemi Badenoch has said the Conservatives could look at means testing the state pension triple-lock, in what would be a major policy shift. The Tory Party leader was asked during a phone-in on LBC Radio whether she would “look at” the triple-lock on the state pension, which sees the welfare benefit rise each year by [...]
Government considering ban on NDAs in workers’ rights Bill January 17, 2025 Labour is set to add a ban on on UK employers using NDAsto hush up harassment to be part of its overhaul of employment rights
Chinese embassy: ‘Alarm bells’ over security fears for London mega-site January 16, 2025 MPs have warned of “serious alarm bells” for the UK’s security over reports senior cabinet ministers have intervened on a Chinese planning application for a huge new London embassy. Foreign secretary David Lammy, who visited China last year, and home secretary Yvette Cooper have indicated their support for the proposed new 20,000 square metre mega-site [...]
No need for City minister to recuse herself over past lobbying, No10 says January 16, 2025 There is no need for new City minister Emma Reynolds to recuse herself from any duties because of her lobbying past, Downing Street has said. The Wycombe MP has taken over the Treasury minister role from Tulip Siddiq, who stepped down over allegations linked to her aunt’s political movement in Bangladesh. Questions had been raised [...]
Badenoch refuses Reform merger as she says UK ‘getting poorer’ January 16, 2025 Kemi Badenoch has said Britain is “getting poorer” and “living off the inheritance” of past generations, as she refused any suggestion of a merger between the Tories and Reform UK. The Conservative leader made her first speech of 2025 in central London on Thursday. She focused on the past mistakes of her party in what [...]