Travelodge in the red amid Reeves’ £21m tax hikes May 22, 2025 Travelodge has fallen to a loss during the first three months of its financial year as it battles the tax hikes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Autumn Budget which will cost the hotel chain more than £20m this year. The company confirmed last year that the rise in the National Living Wage will cost [...]
Seabrook: Crisps brand issues warning over Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes May 22, 2025 The company behind crisps brand Seabrook has warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget tax hikes will have an impact on its bottom line this year. The Cheshire-based UK arm of Japanese giant Calbee pointed to the increase in the National Living Wage and employers’ National Insurance contributions, which came into affect in April, as key [...]
Greene King: Pub giant calls for ‘urgent help’ after losing £150m May 19, 2025 Pub giant Greene King has issued an urgent plea to the government for help after slumping to a near-£150m loss in 2024. The Suffolk-headquartered group fell to a pre-tax loss of £147.1m during its latest financial year, having posted a profit of £45.2m in 2023. Greene King, which operates around 2,600 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, [...]
Reform UK’s fiscal plans could spark ‘Sterling crisis’, economist warns May 16, 2025 Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has hinted at ambitions to become chancellor if his party wins the next general election. What does this mean for the UK’s finances? Simon French, an economist at Panmure Liberum who has advised the government, estimates that Reform UK’s plans would leave the UK with an “immediate” fiscal gap [...]
What Rachel Reeves can learn from Geoffrey Howe May 14, 2025 In 1981, Geoffrey Howe defied Keynesian orthodoxy by tightening fiscal policy during a recession – and completely changed the narrative about the British economy. Reeves must do the same, but all she offers is doom and gloom, says Paul Ormerod The UK economy is either already in or very close to a recession. Despite Rachel [...]
Top private school warns Reeves’ ‘unwelcome’ tax hikes will cost millions May 13, 2025 One of the top private schools in the UK is “taking stock” as it warns Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes will cost it millions. Gresham’s School, whose former students include Sir James Dyson – who donated £35m in 2023 – added it will have to now take action to make sure it “does not become [...]
Tourist tax: Lisa Nandy says Labour may ‘explore’ restoring VAT free shopping April 16, 2025 Lisa Nandy has said the government “could explore” restoring VAT free shopping after hearing “very loud and clear” the calls from the industry to scrap the so-called tourist tax. The culture, media and sport secretary told Elle UK magazine that fashion was in the “soul of the nation” and ministers recognised its “centrality” to the [...]
Spring Statement provides some relief, but probably not for long March 26, 2025 The Spring Statement offered some reasonably good news on growth, but the margin for error is incredibly slim and the chances of further painful tax rises in autumn are high, says Julian Jessop Not quite a non-event, but it could have been a lot worse. Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement is unlikely to do any significant [...]
Labour’s attempt to use AI to power budget cuts is damaging. Here’s why March 26, 2025 The UK government is beginning to introduce AI tools for deep research, framing the technology as a tool to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey announced on Tuesday that Rachel Reeves needs AI to ‘move the needle’ on economic growth. Yet, tying AI to Reeves’ budget cuts risks discouraging its [...]
Once upon a time, Spring Statement day was fun March 25, 2025 Once upon a time, Spring Statement day was fun. Now, as an early-stage entrepreneur, it just fills me with dread, writes Michael Martins in today's Notebook.