Healey launches £150m northern scale-up fund September 7, 2026 Chancellor John Healey is to pile £150m into start-ups in the North of England as part of the government’s bid to use devolution to drive economic growth. Healey will announce a new fund designed to back university spin outs and other start-ups in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle. The Chancellor will announce the fund, [...]
Budget tax hikes would be ‘road to ruin,’ Healey warned September 6, 2026 A top business trade body has warned Chancellor John Healey that tax hikes at the October Budget would set the UK on the “road to ruin”. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has urged the Chancellor not to “pile more taxes on firms,” saying that the Treasury should instead cut the costs facing firms to [...]
Business confidence hits two-year high ahead of Budget September 6, 2026 Business confidence has risen to a near-two-year high as the output of UK firms grows despite the looming October Budget. The optimism of British firms has reached its highest level since just before the 2024 Autumn Budget, according to advisory firm BDO. Its business optimism index jumped to 94.22 in August, fuelled by a strong [...]
Reform UK donations sting ‘looks bad,’ admits Farage September 6, 2026 Nigel Farage has admitted that an undercover investigation into Reform UK’s approach to foreign donations “looks bad”. The Reform leader appeared to soften his position on the donations row engulfing his party but denied it had ever breached electoral law by accepting overseas funding. Farage has been forced to defend his party against allegations that [...]
Britain ‘taxing itself to death,’ Burnham warned September 6, 2026 One of the US’ leading economists has warned Andy Burnham that Britain is “taxing itself to death” in a major intervention ahead of the October Budget. Arthur Laffer, a former economic adviser to three presidents, has warned that the UK is in a “death spiral” ahead of his visit to the country. He wrote in [...]
Spire Healthcare overhauls board amid £1bn private takeover September 6, 2026 The chief executive and chair of Spire Healthcare have stepped away amid a £1bn takeover of the London-listed private hospital group. Veteran boss Justin Ash has said he will retire from the group as it “enters a new phase with strong foundations” under its new ownership by a consortium of investors. Spire’s board have agreed [...]
Women’s rugby can teach the men’s game exactly what it needs right now September 6, 2026 For the last 10 years, the story of women’s rugby has been told through the lens of investment and comparison. How quickly could it catch up with the men’s game? When would attendances improve? When would broadcasters pay for it and big brand sponsors follow? Those were understandable questions, but they are now the wrong [...]
British Airways travellers hit as 3,000 luggage items stuck in Heathrow September 5, 2026 British Airways travellers have arrived at holiday destinations without their luggage as a “technical issue” stopped up to 3,000 luggage items being loaded onto planes at Heathrow Airport. A technical issue with baggage systems at Heathrow Terminal 5, the main hub for British Airways flights, on Thursday has left hundreds of holidaymakers without their bags [...]
Has Reform managed to win over the City? September 5, 2026 Reform UK officials hope that its first-ever Business Day paid dividends at its conference. Maurício Alencar reports on a dramatic 72 hours in Birmingham and asks whether industry chiefs are satisfied with what they’ve heard and seen. Asked for an umbrella phrase to describe Reform’s economic philosophy, policy guru Dr James Orr responded that the [...]
Jenrick pledges to raise tax-free personal allowance to £15,000 September 5, 2026 Robert Jenrick has pledged to raise the tax-free personal allowance from £12,570 to £15,000 in his first budget as Chancellor if Reform UK is elected into government. In a speech on Saturday, Jenrick will say that the £21bn tax cut would show the party’s mission to “choose the worker”. He will add that Reform would [...]