Goldman: Junior white-collar workers squeezed hardest by AI hiring slump August 19, 2026 Artificial intelligence is beginning to weigh most heavily on junior white-collar jobs, according to Goldman Sachs, as new research points to a growing divide between workers entering industries such as consulting and advertising, and their more experienced colleagues. The Wall Street bank analysed employment across more than 800 occupations and found that AI-related hiring pressures [...]
Inflation leaps to 2.9 per cent in blow to Burnham August 19, 2026 Inflation has leaped up following the reset of the energy price cap, official data has revealed, marking the likely beginning of a long run of increases in price growth. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) put the consumer price index inflation reading at 2.9 per cent for the 12 months to July. The previous inflation [...]
Industry chief warns ‘resilience not enough’ for growth August 18, 2026 The boss of Britain’s largest industry body has warned the government that “resilience alone” would not boost growth in the UK, firing the starting gun on two months of policy lobbying ahead of a pivotal Autumn Budget. Writing exclusively for City AM, the boss of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has urged the government [...]
Labour backbencher adds to criticism of stamp duty on shares August 17, 2026 A Labour backbencher with experience in the financial services sector has urged Healey to reconsider stamp duty on shares in UK trading. Callum Anderson, the Labour MP for Buckingham and Bletchley, set out a list of growth policies for Healey to prioritise at the Budget. The proposals break from some of the party’s current economic [...]
Nigel Farage wins in Clacton – and triggers investigation August 14, 2026 Nigel Farage’s re-election has triggered a parliamentary investigation into his financial affairs after he swept to victory in the Clacton by-election. The Reform UK leader won with over 11,000 more votes than the novelty candidate Count Binface, who was the main opposition after every other major party refused to take part in the poll. The [...]
Tory and Labour councillors spar over £300m Hammersmith Bridge plans August 14, 2026 Tensions are mounting between Labour and Tory councillors in nearby authorities over restoration plans for Hammersmith Bridge, which has been closed to motorists for seven years. Arch rivals in Hammersmith & Fulham and Wandsworth councils have sparred over an application to a £1bn government fund for infrastructure. The lack of progress over the bridge’s repair [...]
UK economy weathers Iran war shocks but slowdown incoming August 13, 2026 The UK economy grew 0.4 per cent between April and June, official data has revealed, in a sign that businesses and consumers have so far weathered the worst shocks of the war in Iran. The growth figure from the Office for National Statistics was in line with analysts’ expectations but came alongside a surprise boost [...]
Government debt repayment ‘could rise to half’ of total taxes August 13, 2026 Children and young people today could see nearly half of their taxes spent on servicing government debt, new modelling by a favoured Labour think tank has suggested. Research by the Institute for Public Policy Research, a left-leaning think tank that was formerly the workplace of several Labour ministers and advisers, has shown that debt interest [...]
Labour’s ‘chaotic’ zero-hour crackdown could cost firms £3bn per year August 12, 2026 Labour’s ‘chaotic’ crackdown on zero-hour contracts could cost businesses nearly £3bn every year, though firms have warned the real cost could spiral even higher. The cost of the new rules, which include offering guaranteed-hour contracts to flexible employees and paying workers for cancelled shifts, has been revealed in a government impact assessment. The reforms could [...]
Andy Burnham to ‘go further’ in business rates reform August 12, 2026 Andy Burnham said he would “go further” in introducing business rates reform after already announcing that property taxes would be cut for pubs in return for higher levies on vape shops. The Prime Minister said he will look to bring in more radical changes to the business rates system as part of efforts to ease [...]