Meet the new ministers driving Labour’s latest growth mission September 9, 2025 A £25bn fiscal black hole, fading housebuilding hopes and lacklustre productivity growth marked a troublesome end to the first year in office for the new occupants of Downing Street this summer. While the resignation of Angela Rayner – the popular Labour figure who had called for the Treasury to turn left and tax the wealthy – [...]
Watch: Reeves fights back against critics ‘talking rubbish’ September 4, 2025 It’s not just Angela Rayner who finds herself on the defensive; Rachel Reeves has come out fighting – claiming many of her critics are talking rubbish. Who could she be talking about? Imagine returning from your summer break to find that your boss has poached your deputy and hired a brace of advisers to advise [...]
Rachel Reeves told UK economy is ‘stuck in first gear’ September 4, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned by top industry bosses that the UK economy remains “stuck in first gear” as the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said growth would be slightly higher than expected this year. The BCC has revised its GDP growth estimate for 2025 up to 1.3 per cent from 1.1 per cent [...]
UK economy on ‘much stronger footing’ as growth hopes rise September 3, 2025 The UK economy is expected to accelerate as leading survey data for August showed the services sector on a “much stronger footing”, according to researchers. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged to put “working people” at the heart of plans for the Autumn Budget, which has been announced for 26 November. Businesses will be hoping expected [...]
After a year as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has flunked her growth mission September 2, 2025 Rachel Reeves may not get an official exam transcript, but the numbers categorically show she's flunked her growth mission.
Starmer seeks to relaunch as approval rating hits fresh low September 2, 2025 Keir Starmer has launched a dramatic shakeup of his Downing Street team as he hails the “second phase” of his government amid dire poll ratings and a sluggish economy. The Prime Minister has beefed up Number Ten’s economic muscle, bringing in his Chancellor’s top minister, Darren Jones, to fill a newly created position alongside a [...]
Investec raises growth forecast and backs November interest rate cut August 29, 2025 Global banking firm Investec has lifted its growth projections for the UK economy with another interest rate cut pencilled in for 2025. The financial services company expects the UK economy to grow 1.5 per cent this year and 1.6 per cent in 2026. This trumps the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast, which expects the [...]
Business confidence edges up despite tax raid fears August 29, 2025 Business confidence has grown for the fourth consecutive month, according to a fresh survey, despite rising speculation of a fresh tax raid on businesses by the Labour government. Lloyds Bank’s business confidence index edged up two points to 54 per cent in August as sentiment among manufacturers climbed to its highest in a decade. The [...]
Rachel Reeves told ‘copy Margaret Thatcher’ with bank tax raid August 29, 2025 Britain’s banking titans are back in the hot seat as Rachel Reeves faces renewed calls to hike taxes on lenders. The self-described “iron Chancellor” has been advised to take a leaf out of Margaret Thatcher’s book with a fresh levy on banks that would hand the Treasury up to £8bn a year. The levy – [...]
UK growth revised up two years late August 19, 2025 The UK economy grew slightly more in 2023 than previously assumed due to a change in how official statisticians calculate research and development (R&D) data, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Reflecting the difficulties in adding up output and consumption figures, the ONS said it was including new figures on tax data for R&D [...]