Voters expect ‘no difference’ to UK economy after Healey’s modest Budget Economics John Healey’s Budget will make “no difference” to the UK economy, voters have said, as concerns over stealth taxes and defence spending overshadowed a series of giveaways in the Chancellor’s maiden fiscal statement. Polling by City AM/Freshwater Strategy showed that about half of voters expected the Budget to make “no difference” to Britain’s economic fortunes. [...]
Finance chiefs warn Treasury against delaying crypto strategy Crypto Nearly a dozen industry bodies have warned the Chancellor not to delay plans to develop a central strategy on the regulation and adoption of cryptocurrencies and digital assets ahead of a pivotal vote in parliament. Bosses from the likes of Innovate Finance, The City UK and Tech UK urged John Healey to recommit to publishing [...]
Labour races ahead of Reform and Tories with eight-point lead Politics Labour has raced further ahead of Reform UK and the Conservatives, creating an eight-point gap in the polls in November. City AM/Freshwater Strategy polling has shown that 30 per cent of voters backed Labour, compared to 22 per cent for Reform UK and the Conservatives. The wider distance between Labour and its two main political [...]
What the Scotch whisky industry wants from government November 2, 2026 There was a mixture of dismay, exasperation and righteous indignation in the Scotch whisky industry when, in his first Budget as chancellor last Wednesday, John Healey ignored longstanding pleas for a fairer approach to excise duty on spirits. The Scotch Whisky Association’s CEO Mark Kent, said afterwards: “Another increase – the fourth in as many [...]
Labour’s media leaking is corroding parliamentary standards November 2, 2026 If Labour doesn’t respect the rules of Parliament, including secrecy, why should anyone else, asks Eliot Wilson.
Labour will reduce ballooning benefits bill, claims John Healey November 1, 2026 John Healey has vowed that Labour will reduce the benefits bill, after admitting the current system is “not working”. The Chancellor created widespread confusion earlier this week, after failing to clarify whether the ballooning cost of welfare will be cut before the next election by declining to put a timeframe to it. But Healey claimed [...]
Revealed: The luxury London pads getting Healey’s energy handout – while poorer areas miss out October 30, 2026 John Healey’s energy bills support package was meant to be targeted. But a City AM analysis has found homes worth millions are in line for a handout, while others in poorer areas will get nothing. John Healey’s maiden fiscal event was nothing if not targeted. Painful tax rises – be they on banks or gambling [...]
Burnham’s former economic adviser gives Budget a four out of 10 October 30, 2026 One of Andy Burnham’s former economic advisers has given John Healey’s Budget a four out of 10, warning there remained a 50 per cent chance the UK economy will be in worse shape next year than it is now. Andy Haldane, who for years served as chief economist at the Bank of England, told the [...]
Healey’s business rate tweaks won’t stop ‘hollowing out’ high street, business group warns October 30, 2026 John Healey’s changes to high street business rates are a “sticking plaster” that will not reverse the “hollowing out” of town centres across the country, the boss of Britain’s largest business group has warned. In his maiden Budget this week, the Chancellor said he would lift the threshold at which small firms receive business rates [...]
Rising welfare bill set to ‘swallow’ stealth tax revenue October 29, 2026 Rising benefit costs will “swallow” all the revenue from frozen tax thresholds that are dragging millions of workers into paying higher rates, analysis has found. The Centre for Social Justice has said that the £33bn increase in benefits spending between 2027 and 2032 will broadly match a rise in projected receipts from frozen income tax [...]