Healey facing £6bn hit as UK borrowing costs reach highest point since financial crisis September 1, 2026 UK borrowing costs have hit their highest level since the financial crisis as gilts were swept up in a mass rout across global bond markets. The UK government is set to pay a higher rate on debt interest as 10-year gilt yields, the benchmark for borrowing costs, were up by as much as 15 basis [...]
Burnham’s presidential summer is over September 1, 2026 Andy Burnham has been enjoying a presidential summer. He’s communicated with the public through podcasts and social media; delivered the occasional speech; toured the country and generally made his own weather. Today, he’ll come crashing back down to parliamentary reality. Two months ago there were reports that the then mayor of Manchester and Makerfield by [...]
The tax rumours most worrying my clients September 1, 2026 As Budget day creeps over the horizon, JMW partner Craig Harrison writes about which tax rumours are most worrying his clients.
Stealth taxes intensify London first time buyer struggle September 1, 2026 A raft of government stealth taxes is driving the London property market even further into unaffordability for first time buyers, fresh research has found. Freezes in tax bands and thresholds means the average home in the capital now accounts for an eye-watering 14.7 times average earnings after accounting for stamp duty, national insurance and income [...]
Burnham is ‘not behind’ business confidence bounce September 1, 2026 Andy Burnham’s rise to Number 10 is not the reason for a bounce in business confidence, industry leaders have said. Some analysts have attributed a higher degree of optimism among businesses and consumers in recent months to the “Burnham bounce” and new political direction since Sir Keir Starmer resigned. But influential lobby group the Institute [...]
‘Big Brother’: HMRC agents to target mansions with ponies and pools August 31, 2026 HMRC agents are set to inspect homes with ponies, scenic views and balconies in order to value homes for the “mansion tax”. Officials will be sent to properties to consider architectural styles, numbers of bedrooms and whether homes have swimming pools or tennis courts before determining whether homes should be taxed at a higher rate. [...]
Green activists want to take Polanski down a dark road August 31, 2026 The Greens' absolutism is bad for politics, and Polanski too. Those who police dogma see heretics everywhere, even at the top.
The unhelpful nationalism of ‘Buy British’ in defence August 31, 2026 Hyperfixating on where a defence company happens to be registered will leave Britain on the back foot, writes Paul Jenkinson.
Lord Walker calls for Healey to cut business taxes August 30, 2026 Iceland boss Lord Richard Walker has urged Andy Burnham and John Healey to cut taxes for businesses and to stop focusing on the cost of living. Walker, who backed Labour at the last election, said Healey should ease costs for employers. The supermarket chief was the cost of living tsar under Sir Keir Starmer’s government [...]
‘War on wealth creation’: capital gains tax raid would lose government money, Tories argue August 28, 2026 A fresh capital gains tax raid on Britain’s wealthiest would ultimately lose the government money, according to new Conservative analysis of Treasury data. Internal government modelling suggests that the top rate of capital gains tax (CGT) is already too high and hiking it further would lead to lower tax receipts. Figures presented to the Labour [...]