Business confidence slumps ahead of Spring Statement March 2, 2026 Business confidence slumped back in February as directors’ frustration with the state of the UK economy grew, new research has shown. The Institute of Directors’ latest business confidence survey has uncovered bosses’ exasperation with the UK economy and the level of employment taxes preventing them from taking on more workers. The IoD said its economic [...]
UK firms ‘misallocate £10bn’ on HR departments, report says February 23, 2026 The UK’s human resources sector is twice the size of the EU’s and has led to firms misallocating as much as £10bn in capital, new research has suggested. A paper on the cost of diversity and equality agendas on businesses has argued that HR departments have grown at a disproportionate rate, with the UK having [...]
‘Woke’ banknotes: Bank of England orders money printer to follow ESG rules January 29, 2026 The Bank of England is facing backlash over its plans to make a new banknote printer comply with ESG and diversity standards under a “pass or fail” regime. Bank officials have attracted criticism from shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith over their plans to make applicants for the UK’s new money printing contract follow stringent criteria [...]
Business chiefs back Employment Rights Bill progression despite ‘concerns’ December 15, 2025 Business leaders have called on parliament to pass the Employment Rights Bill after it secured a compromise on day one rights for unfair dismissal. Six industry groups have written a joint letter to business secretary Peter Kyle stating their support for parliamentarians to pass the bill. The letter now puts pressure on crossbench peers and [...]
Lib Dems and Tories erupt in row over Employment Rights Bill December 11, 2025 The Liberal Democrats and the Tories have clashed over a late evening vote on the Employment Rights Bill that saw LibDem peers fall in behind the Labour government. Tory business speaker Andrew Griffith accused the Liberal Democrats of voting with Labour in the House of Lords on Wednesday night on the basis that the party [...]
WATCH LIVE: City AM reacts to the Budget November 26, 2025 After months of speculation and mounting political drama, Rachel Reeves has delivered her second Budget. City AM‘s team has all the latest news throughout the day on our Live Blog via CityAM.com and the City AM App, along with a special livestream broadcast from the heart of the Square Mile at 2pm. Broadcasting live from the London Stock Exchange, City AM‘s Editor [...]
City watchdogs balloon despite deregulation drive November 18, 2025 Calls for the Chancellor to accelerate her City-wide deregulation push grew on Monday after freshly obtained figures revealed headcount at financial regulators has ballooned by over 50 per cent in the past decade. According to data shared exclusively with City AM, nearly 4,500 more staff work at the City’s five largest regulators than did 10 [...]
Andrew Griffith: ‘Tell us which City rules to slash’ November 10, 2025 Look at a UK companies’ annual report today and you will find a lengthy tome more likely to resemble a doorstop than something to provoke interest or excitement from investors. Much of this is the result of a vast expansion of corporate reporting requirements placed on businesses, starting with Labour’s Companies Act 2006 and pursued [...]
Labour should pull it’s Employment Rights Bill before it becomes the Unemployment Act November 6, 2025 Labour’s new law will mean a new starter can show up at work at 9am and file a costly claim against their boss by lunchtime, says Andrew Griffith MPs debated amendments to Labour’s so-called Employment Rights Bill yesterday. Employers are dreading this Bill. Written by and for the trade unions, it poses a dire threat to businesses [...]
Labour’s assault on jobs will undermine growth November 4, 2025 Rachel Reeves is engaged in a complicated dance with the Office for Budget Responsibility in the run up to her second Budget. When the fiscal watchdog presents its scorecard on the Chancellor’s plans – and on wider government policies – the music will stop and we’ll see whether Reeves pulls off a surprising lift, or [...]