City grandees call for revival of ‘animal spirits’ on Big Bang anniversary Markets City grandees have called on the government to revive “animal spirits” in London’s capital markets and accelerate regulatory reform on the anniversary of the Big Bang. Industry leaders told City AM the City has enjoyed decades of success since the sweeping deregulation of the Square Mile in 1986 but Britain’s financial services industry is now [...]
Reform-linked think tank calls for sweeping City deregulation and tax cuts Politics A Reform UK-linked think tank has called for sweeping tax cuts for investors and an overhaul of regulation in a report that was described by Richard Tice and Robert Jenrick as a “serious contribution” to the UK’s growth debate. The Centre for a Better Britain has called for the abolition of capital gains taxes and [...]
Revolut lands fresh banking licence after wrestling with Europe friction Fintech Revolut has been granted a new full-fat banking licence with approval from the European Central Bank following previous friction with the prudential regulator. The $75bn fintech giant – which is currently undergoing a secondary share sale expected to value it at $115bn – revealed on Monday its European arm will accelerate its continental push under [...]
Starling plans to ‘come out swinging’ in diversification bid August 6, 2026 Bernadette Smith has a spring in her step as she sits down in Starling’s headquarters to discuss her new role. The fintech’s new banking boss is buzzing with energy that she wants to pass onto customers and investors. “I want everyone to be talking about us,” she says, envisaging how she will measure success in [...]
Singapore on Thames or the Sick Man of Europe?: The Economics of Brexit Ten Years from the Referendum July 9, 2026 Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Robert Johnson of the Centre for Cities analyse the economic impact of Brexit and its promise of deregulation and growth Since the Brexit referendum of 2016, and since actually leaving the EU in January 2021, the UK’s economic performance has been feeble. On a [...]
Bank of England to relax capital rules despite warning of economic threats July 7, 2026 The Bank of England set out proposals to relax UK banks’ capital rules even as it sounded the alarm on the growing risk of multiple threats hitting the UK economy. In the latest meeting of the central bank’s Financial Policy Committee top officials said it would work with watchdogs on a package of “broad reforms” [...]
‘Too much tax, too much regulation’: Fintech chief sounds alarm on UK economy and IPO market July 7, 2026 The boss of one of the UK’s fastest-growing fintech unicorns has warned the country risks “putting founders off” with overregulation and heavy taxation as speculation rises that the Labour government could make a major lurch to the left. Paul Taylor, who founded banking software firm Thought Machine in 2014, told City AM he feared UK [...]
UK banks fear a ‘disaster’ with Ed Miliband as Chancellor June 24, 2026 City banks are fretting over the prospect of Ed Miliband as Chancellor as Andy Burnham mulls who he will give the keys to Number 11. The banking industry is bracing for a shake-up at the Treasury and fears it could be hit with a fresh raft of taxes under a new Chancellor while key deregulatory [...]
Badenoch sets sights on battle with the Bank June 24, 2026 The City is in the mood for a regulatory bonfire and Kemi Badenoch hopes to be the one to light the flame. In this week’s column, Samuel Norman looks at the roadblocks she may face on her pursuit. “Don’t forget about Andrew Bailey.” That was the parting shot I got from a former Bank of [...]
Baillie Gifford launches UK’s first ever tokenised fund June 22, 2026 Baillie Gifford has launched the UK’s first ever fully tokenised investment fund, in a move that will grant savers the opportunity to invest in short-dated bonds via blockchain-based tokens. The Scottish investment house unveiled its Enhanced Yield Fund on Tuesday, with a mandate actively to manage investors money in a variety of short-term corporate and [...]