Healey vows AI will not ‘leave workers behind’ in £600m Budget package Tech John Healey has vowed not to let AI “leave workers behind” as he unveiled more than £600m in investment ahead of next week’s Budget, amid mounting concerns over AI-driven job losses. The Treasury will commit £10m a year to studying the impact of AI on employment, alongside hundreds of millions of pounds for cyber security, [...]
Autumn Budget 2026: What does the bond market want from Healey? Economics John Healey is not expected to rock the boat in his maiden Budget next week. Looking at the combustible bond market, that’s probably just as well, writes Ali Lyon. John Healey is, the well-worn cliche goes, walking a tightrope. Boxed in from three directions, the Chancellor could certainly have hoped for an easier backdrop in [...]
How John Healey clamped down on Treasury speculation Politics Since entering Downing Street in July, John Healey has faced criticism from some business chiefs over an economic vision that seems similar to Rachel Reeves. But one aspect of running the Treasury has split Healey from his predecessor more than any other: keeping a lid on Budget rumours. After being appointed Chancellor, City AM can [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks slide as oil surges to five-month high October 23, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM FTSE 100 liveblog. It’s Friday morning and London’s blue-chip index is set for a flat open as pressures on markets persist. The price of a barrel of oil has surged to $114 per barrel, trading at its highest level in over five months. It follows escalating Houthi attacks on [...]
Getting closer to the EU is a sop to Burnham’s socialist backbenchers October 23, 2026 Andy Burnham wants to undo Brexit because he’s given on the supply side reforms Britain needs for growth, says Joseph Dinnage October is always grim. The temperature drops, the rain begins and the darkness sets in. This month is poised to be even drearier than usual. In a week’s time, we’ll have John Healey’s first Budget. Healey [...]
Healey: I want to help bloody-minded founders October 22, 2026 John Healey has pledged to devote next week’s Budget to “bloody-minded entrepreneurs”, acknowledging small and fast-growing businesses have been “under pressure” from a barrage of fresh taxes and regulation. The Chancellor said he would clamp down on the “cost of business” as well as on the cost of living, promising to patch up relations with [...]
TG Jones owner Modella pulls out of race to buy Poundland October 21, 2026 TG Jones owner Modella Capital has pulled out of the race to buy Poundland but will still look to pick up some of its stores if a sale process collapses, City AM can reveal. The private equity firm, which also owns Flying Tiger, had expressed an interest in bidding for the entirety of Poundland but [...]
Bank of England set to overshadow Healey’s Budget with interest rate hike October 21, 2026 The Bank of England is expected to overshadow John Healey’s maiden Budget with a “done deal” interest rate hike aiming to tame soaring inflation while risking economic growth. Top City economists predict the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will raise the base rate at its November meeting, just one week after the Autumn Budget. [...]
‘Own goal’ – City chiefs warn Healey higher bank taxes hurt jobs outside London October 21, 2026 Top City chiefs are launching last-ditch attempts to stop a punishing tax raid on banks at the Budget, warning the move will hurt jobs and growth outside of London. Rain Newton-Smith, the chief executive of the CBI, is set to warn Chancellor John Healey that increasing taxes on banks would be an “own goal for [...]
Greene King boss: Pub industry ‘reaching breaking point’ October 20, 2026 The finance boss of Greene King has warned that soaring taxes and employment costs have pushed the UK’s hospitality industry to “breaking point”. Jonathan Fearn, finance chief of the privately-owned pub chain, said decisions taken by the Labour government have “created a cocktail of costs, which have made it ever harder for a pub to [...]