Capital gains tax incentive may benefit but ‘disrupt’ professional services sector October 28, 2026 The new capital gains tax incentive Chancellor John Healey unveiled in his Budget may benefit LLP firms in the professional services sector if they qualify, but it also risks disrupting partner dynamics within the firms. Healey announced the so-called ‘Founder’s Relief’ capital gains tax (CGT) incentive in his Budget speech on Wednesday in a bid [...]
Healey avoids bond market backlash with ‘placeholder Budget’ October 28, 2026 John Healey has managed to avoid punishment at the hands of the bond market through a “placeholder Budget” that delayed big decisions on defence and welfare and left questions hanging over the government’s future spending plans. The Chancellor announced a raft of cost of living measures as part of his fiscal statement, funded by taxes [...]
Labour workers’ rights overhaul to inflict ‘negative’ hit on economy, OBR says October 28, 2026 Britain’s fiscal watchdog has warned Labour’s overhaul of workers’ rights will have a “negative economic impact” as the cost to businesses will far outstrip any boost to workers’ productivity. The government’s sweeping employment reforms in its landmark Employment Rights Act (ERA) have reduced the qualifying period for unfair dismissal to six months, removed the compensation [...]
‘Jobs killer’: Gambling industry lashes out at Healey betting tax raid October 28, 2026 After the Chancellor announced a tax hike for the gambling and betting sector, Saskia Koopman dissected the industry reaction Machine Games Duty (MGD) will rise from 20 to 25 per cent in April 2027, below the 40 per cent demanded by campaigners and some Labour MPs. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) warned that almost [...]
Autumn Budget 2026: Tax hikes will negate boost from hosting Olympic Games October 28, 2026 Tax hikes and regulation announced in Wednesday’s Budget will negate any financial boost from Great Britain hosting the Olympic Games in the 2040s, the UK government has been warned. Chancellor John Healey confirmed in his fiscal statement that a £7m fund would be made available to conduct a “feasibility study for a potential future bid [...]
Budget 2026: Tax raid on landlords ‘final nail in the coffin’ for rental sector October 28, 2026 John Healey’s decision to hike tax on rental income is set to push up rents and deter new landlords from entering the sector, Britain’s fiscal watchdog has said. In his maiden Budget today, the Chancellor said that tax on property income will rise by a further two per cent, following the two per cent hike [...]
JP Morgan slams Healey for bank tax hike that ‘lacks principle’ October 28, 2026 JP Morgan has slammed the Labour government for raising taxes on the UK banking sector and said the move “lacks principle”. Wall Street’s biggest bank, which serves over 2.5m UK users through its retail arm Chase, said it is “committed” to the UK but raised concern over the targeting of the sector in John Healey’s [...]
Pint prices to rise as Healey hikes beer duty October 28, 2026 The price of a pint is set to rise by 2p after John Healey announced plans to hike beer duty, saddling pubs with more costs despite a commitment to cut their business rates. The Chancellor said alcohol duty, which is charged on every pint sold, will rise in line with Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation, [...]
Budget 2026: Healey uses state-backed lenders to ramp up borrowing October 28, 2026 John Healey has revealed plans to increase borrowing through the UK’s state-owned business lender and infrastructure bank. The Chancellor has allocated an extra £20.4bn to the country’s two major state-owned policy banks for the next five-years. The National Wealth Fund will get around £15.4bn, while the British Business Bank will receive £5bn. “I will work [...]
Budget 2026: Healey unveils data centre deal in bid to keep Britain’s AI data in the UK October 28, 2026 John Healey has unveiled a new deal offering data centre developers priority access to Britain’s electricity grid in exchange for investment in jobs and environmental protections. Announcing the British Data Centre Covenant in Wednesday’s Budget, Healey said the government would impose strict conditions on developers while helping critical facilities secure the power needed to support [...]