Minister denies Labour’s tax hikes behind youth unemployment October 8, 2026 The Labour government’s £25bn hike in taxes paid by employers is not the main driver behind rising youth unemployment, a government minister told City AM. Baroness Jacqui Smith, the skills minister, said that changes in NICs and minimum wages have not been the main drivers behind a rise in unemployment rates for people under the [...]
Hargreaves Lansdown warns Healey: Don’t ‘penalise investors’ with capital gains hike October 7, 2026 A leading investment platform is urging chancellor John Healey to not “penalise investors” at the upcoming Budget, as Brits brace for potential tax hikes. Anna Macdonald, investment strategy director at Hargreaves Lansdown, said fresh upheaval to the tax system could discourage investment in the UK at a time when economic growth is needed. In particular, [...]
Labour’s band-aid won’t save the justice system from collapse October 7, 2026 When the buildings designed to deliver justice are infested with rats, it is no surprise that the system itself is rotting from the inside out, writes Maria Ward-Brennan. The terrible state of the justice system is by now well understood, but with the government’s most controversial plan to relive the pressure now partially scrapped, the [...]
Will anyone turn Badenoch’s looming battle into a tapestry? October 7, 2026 The Tory party has been enjoying itself in Birmingham, not least thanks to the delightful wheeze of mocking up the Bayeux Tapestry to tell the story of British politics under Labour’s first two years in power. The exhibition may well prove to be among the most popular offerings at the party conference; behind Jeremy Clarkson [...]
The case against devolution? Wales’ declining education system October 7, 2026 Devolution is great when it works. But where are the sanctions for poor outcomes like Wales' appalling education results, asks Paul Ormerod.
UK AI health rules could give firms ‘competitive edge’ as ministers back overhaul October 6, 2026 Experts have said Britain’s new approach to regulating AI in healthcare could give UK tech firms a “competitive edge” by letting them prove their technology in the NHS earlier. The UK government on Tuesday accepted all 44 recommendations of the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare, paving the way for a shake-up [...]
Huge £45m bill for Peckham Rye station upgrade branded ‘scandalous’ October 6, 2026 The huge £45m bill to give Peckham Rye station step-free access – which is backed by a top Cabinet minister – involves forcing builders to use handheld tools to carve bricks and demolishing an art centre in order to complete the works, City AM has found. On Tuesday, energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh launched a petition [...]
Reeves beats Kwarteng to ‘worst chancellor’ in new ranking October 6, 2026 Just months after her exit from Number 11, Rachel Reeves has been given the dubious honour of being voted “worst chancellor”, in a new survey. According to an AJ Bell survey, Reeves was the least popular of the last five chancellors, and even ranked below Kwasi Kwarteng, who held the role for just over a [...]
City watchdog launches probe after whistleblower’s death raises questions October 6, 2026 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a probe into how the regulatory body interacted with a whistleblower who recently took his own life. Simon Andriesz, a former managing director at BGC Partners, had blown the whistle on alleged links between the US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He [...]
NHS may not be able to replace Palantir before £330m deal deadline October 5, 2026 The NHS may not be able to replace Palantir before a crunch deadline on its £330m data contract, raising the stakes for ministers as pressure mounts to cut ties with the US tech giant. The warning comes as ministers weigh Palantir’s future and campaigners ramp up pressure to ditch the company, with more than 44,000 [...]