Ditch the ‘usual suspects’: Gov.uk founder urges Labour to look beyond Big Four consultants September 2, 2026 Labour has loudly pledged to slash taxpayer spending on external consultants. However, the founder of a City-based digital consultancy firm told City AM that the government still relies on private firms to plug operational gaps because the civil service previously “got rid of the wrong skills”. Ben Terrett, chief executive and founder of Public Digital, said the [...]
Mortgage nightmare as investors price in three interest rate hikes September 2, 2026 Investors have priced in three interest rate hikes over the next two years as a global bond market rout sent UK gilt yields soaring. Two-year gilt yields, which gauges short term interest rate expectations, have jumped over 4.5 per cent, pushing up borrowing costs and putting the UK’s economic stability under threat. The Bank of [...]
‘Large tax hikes on the way’: How the global bond rout is boxing in Healey September 2, 2026 Chancellor John Healey is likely to roll-out “large tax hikes” at this year’s Budget due to a rout in global bond markets pushing up the cost of government borrowing, economists have said. A jump in the 10-year gilt yield to the highest level since August 2007 could “further erode” the £22.7bn level of fiscal headroom [...]
IMF sounds alarm on borrowing costs surge as bond rout deepens September 2, 2026 The global rise in borrowing costs is a “particular concern,” the International Monetary Fund has said, as UK bond yields reach a level last seen in the financial crisis. The yield on the 10-year UK gilt climbed four basis points on Wednesday morning to near 5.27 per cent, which followed the previous day’s rally that [...]
Jim O’Neill: Capital gains tax hike ‘looms’ as top option for Burnham September 2, 2026 Lord Jim O’Neill has warned a hike to capital gains tax “looms out” as one of the easiest revenue-raising options for Andy Burnham and his chancellor, John Healey, as the pair draw up plans for their first Budget in October. “They’ve ruled out the three main taxes, so if they’re going to have to find [...]
Burnham’s in hock to the bond markets – whether he likes it or not September 2, 2026 Andy Burnham once said this country shouldn’t be in hock to the bond markets, so it was unfortunate that his much-hyped return to the House of Commons yesterday was overshadowed by the surging cost of servicing government debt. The yield on the ten-year gilt has hit its highest level since 2008. The longer term 30 [...]
UK economy stuck in ‘slow lane’ as business investment to slump September 1, 2026 A slump in business investment will drag on the UK economy’s potential for growth over the rest of the year as industry chiefs warned that the country was stuck in the “slow lane”. The British Chambers of Commerce has warned that the UK economy is set for a slowdown in momentum over the remaining two [...]
Burnham says the government is central to his ‘triple helix’ plan for growth September 1, 2026 Andy Burnham has said the state will be central to his “theory of growth” in his first statement in the House of Commons as Prime Minister. Addressing MPs, Burnham said his ideas for the UK economy centres on a “triple helix approach to economic development” in which universities, businesses and the government foster economic growth. The ‘triple [...]
As Sir Keir Starmer quits parliament, will Zack Polanski replace him? September 1, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer is set to resign as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras in order to focus on work in defence and international affairs. The former Prime Minister told the Camden New Journal that he would focus on issues such as “defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world” after leaving parliament. [...]
Burnham’s presidential summer is over September 1, 2026 Andy Burnham has been enjoying a presidential summer. He’s communicated with the public through podcasts and social media; delivered the occasional speech; toured the country and generally made his own weather. Today, he’ll come crashing back down to parliamentary reality. Two months ago there were reports that the then mayor of Manchester and Makerfield by [...]