UK markets ‘functioning’ and banking system ‘resilient’, Reeves tells MPs April 8, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has spoken in the House of Commons on the “current economic situation” in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping new global trade tariffs. Addressing MPs ahead of Treasury questions, Reeves said the “implications have been reflected in the reaction that we have seen in global markets in recent days, which [...]
Tariffs: Starmer commits to fiscal rules and not raising income tax and VAT April 7, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has stressed his commitment to the government’s fiscal rules and reiterated he would not increase national insurance, VAT or income tax, despite Donald Trump’s tariffs upending government economic policy. The Prime Minister called for “cool heads” as global markets plunged in response to the US President’s sweeping global import taxes, and said [...]
Seven in 10 UK voters worried about impact of Trump‘s tariffs, polling finds April 7, 2025 Seven in 10 UK voters are worried about the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the British economy, a new poll has revealed. Some 69 per cent of those surveyed say they are very or somewhat worried about Trump’s new global import tariffs in the UK, according to the latest City AM/Freshwater Strategy [...]
Tariff response: slash red tape and lure the non-doms back April 7, 2025 Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith on the five steps the government should now take A few years before he died, Henry Kissinger described Trump as “one of those figures in history who appears from time to time to mark the end of an era and to force it to give up its old pretences”. It [...]
More than 30,000 migrants crossed Channel since Starmer took office April 5, 2025 More than 30,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, according to the latest government figures. A total of 154 people made the crossing in four boats on Friday, according to the Home Office. This brings the migrants total for the year so far to 6,796, [...]
Global markets nose-dive as Trump’s tariff on UK products comes into effect April 5, 2025 Donald Trump’s 10 per cent tariff on UK products has officially come into force, with global stock markets plunging deeper into the red in response to the imposition of import taxes. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to spend the weekend speaking to foreign leaders about the tariffs, after calls with the prime ministers [...]
Number 10 slaps down David Lammy ‘protectionism’ comments as tariff shockwaves continue April 4, 2025 Downing Street has distanced itself from comments made by the foreign secretary, who told reporters on Friday that he regrets “the return of protectionism in the United States.” David Lammy said that Britain is “a nation that believes in open trade” and that these curbs on trade are “something we’ve not seen for nearly a [...]
Construction output drops again despite Rayner’s planning reforms April 4, 2025 Construction activity has suffered a further decline and confidence is low despite minister Angela Rayner’s planning reforms getting a thumbs up from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Rayner’s Ministry of Housing is introducing broad changes to planning rules as it hopes to deliver the UK’s construction sector an extra boost. Its planning reforms have [...]
UK to consult on ‘retaliatory tariffs’ as Tories call for employment reforms to be scrapped April 3, 2025 The UK will consult businesses on “possible retaliatory action’ including on US products that could face tariffs, in response to Donald Trump’s sweeping global import taxes. Jonathan Reynolds made the announcement to MPs in the House of Commons, stating: “To enable the UK to have every option open to us in the future, I am [...]
US tariffs: Keir Starmer vows to ‘keep cool head’ in face of ‘economic impact’ April 3, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “keep a cool head” in the face of the “economic impact” of Donald Trump’s 10 per cent tariffs on UK exports to the US, amid fears of a wider trade war. The Prime Minister spoke to business chiefs in Downing Street this morning in the wake of sweeping global [...]