Trump hails relationship with Starmer – but no steel exemptions yet July 28, 2025 In a Scottish golfing holiday that has swiftly given way to a multi-sided international summit, Keir Starmer has held a bilateral meeting with Donald Trump which has spanned from the UK-US trading relationship to immigration policy and international conflicts. Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds had tempered expectations of immediate steel tariff progress ahead of the meeting, [...]
Goods now make up just 40 per cent of UK exports July 28, 2025 The proportion of UK exports made up of goods has sunk to a record low, with the economy ever more dependent upon services. That’s according to analysis done by the Financial Times based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, which found that goods now account for just 40.8 per cent of exports. Back in [...]
Labour to introduce new licensing rules to boost high street venues July 26, 2025 The Labour government has pledged to simplify the opening process for new high street venues in a bid to ramp up British hospitality prospects. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said new licensing framework, which comes as part of Labour’s overhaul on planning, plans to fast-track permissions for al fresco dining, helping to “protect pavement pints”. The [...]
Rachel Reeves urges cabinet to boost British jobs as employment slides July 26, 2025 Rachel Reeves has told cabinet ministers to ensure government contracts go to companies that will boost British workers as employment figures continue to struggle. The Chancellor, along with Chancellor to the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, told their colleagues that the billions in public spending on transport and infrastructure projects must be utilised as an [...]
Businesses to pay £1.1bn in new packaging fees to councils July 26, 2025 Councils in England are set to receive a share of £1.1 billion in recycling funding taken from money charged to companies for the packaging they produce. Under the current system, local councils have footed the bill for disposing of items such as milk bottles, cereal boxes and soup tins using taxpayers’ money. But the new [...]
Jonathan Reynolds slams wealth tax as ‘daft’ in broadside against Labour left July 25, 2025 Jonathan Reynolds has dismissed the prospect of a wealth tax as “daft”, amidst repeated warnings from the City that the policy would damage the UK economy. In a podcast interview with GB News, the business secretary told those on the left of the Labour party: “Get serious!” Reynolds insisted that much of Labour policy already [...]
Five day doctors’ strikes begin as Wes Streeting-BMA talks break down July 25, 2025 Resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors – led by the British Medical Association (BMA) began a five-day strike on Friday morning, set to last until 7am on Wednesday. Health secretary Wes Streeting said on Thursday evening that strike action should have been a “last resort”, and “we did not need to be in [...]
Trump Scotland visit: Starmer to push for zero steel tariffs July 25, 2025 President Trump kicks off his golfing holiday in Scotland this evening, and all eyes are on his diary as the trip looks set to become a hub for diplomacy. Sir Keir Starmer will meet the US President on Monday, with the express mission of pressing for reduced tariffs on British steel. The two leaders are [...]
UK-India trade deal will be major boost for financial services July 25, 2025 Yesterday, as the UK-India Free Trade Agreement was signed, it marked a landmark moment forBritain’s financial services sector. Not only is this the government delivering a trade deal that was talked about for many years butnever happened – it is delivering a real strategic partnership with the world’s fastest-growing majoreconomy. It’s an agreement that perfectly [...]
Rachel Reeves is lost in space July 24, 2025 Rachel Reeves said was steering the economy past a black hole but her calculations are off and we’re heading for the abyss, says Helen Thomas One year ago, the new UK Chancellor declared that upon taking office she had discovered a £22bn fiscal black hole. She told parliament in her first big speech, “If left [...]