Week in Business: Will more defence spending mean higher taxes? February 27, 2025 Cutting the international aid budget to boost defence spending – sounds like a fair exchange in a time of war and hazard – but there’s more to this announcement than meets the eye. The Prime Minister was deadly serious when he stood up in the Commons this week to declare that the country faces a [...]
A dealmaker’s advice to Keir Starmer: Remember Trump’s not a caricature February 27, 2025 Ahead of Keir Starmer's pivotal meeting with President Trump, dealmaker Guy Hands gives his best advice on the art of the deal.
If Starmer wants to cut foreign aid, here’s where he should start February 27, 2025 Keir Starmer has announced plans to cut the foreign budget to pay for increased defence spending. He should start with the billions we hand out to the global quangocracy, says Elliot Keck Keir Starmer may not deserve much credit for his time in office so far, but at least on defence spending he’s shown leadership. [...]
Donald Trump announces 25 per cent tariffs on EU imports February 26, 2025 Donald Trump has announced he plans to slap 25 per cent tariffs on imports from the European Union (EU) into the US. The US President slammed the European trading bloc, claiming it was set up to “screw” America, and had “done a good job of it but now I am President”. His comments came as [...]
PMQs: Starmer won’t confirm if Chagos deal money included in defence rise February 26, 2025 Keir Starmer has declined to confirm whether money spent on the Chagos Islands deal will be included in the rise in defence spending. The UK is in talks with Mauritius about handing over sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory but leasing back the strategic Diego Garcia military base, which the US uses. The Prime [...]
Keir Starmer’s defence pledge will prompt ‘tough choices’ on tax February 26, 2025 The Prime Minister confirmed yesterday that defence spending will rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027, up from 2.3 per cent at the moment.
The West has been free riding on US defence spending February 25, 2025 The West has been free riding on US defence spending for decades. It's no surprise Trump is now calling us to account, writes Paul Ormerod.
‘Productivity argument’ against family firm tax breaks, IFS director argues February 25, 2025 There is a “productivity argument” against treating family businesses “generously”, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) director has argued, when asked about inheritance tax. Economist Paul Johnson addressed the National Farmers Union (NFU) conference in Westminster on Tuesday, which saw environment secretary Steve Reed’s speech interrupted by farming protestors, as well as NFU president Tom [...]
UK defence stocks surge after Keir Starmer spending pledge February 25, 2025 Stocks in UK weapons manufacturers are having another strong week after Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to increase British defence spending to its highest in decades. Starmer announced the “biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War”, with the UK set to increase arms spending from 2.3 per cent to [...]
Defence spending to rise to 2.5 per cent by 2027 via aid cuts, Starmer confirms February 25, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has announced the “biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War” as he confirmed the UK would spend 2.5 per cent of GDP [gross domestic product] by 2027. The Prime Minister unveiled the policy in a statement to the House of Commons after reports he was set [...]