OBR should focus more on policy growth ‘upsides’ – says Tony Blair think tank November 6, 2025 The Government must force the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to take more account of policy “upsides” when assessing an impact on growth, Tony Blair’s think tank has said. The Treasury watchdog should be required to be bolder in predicting growth to reward more ambitious economic policies, a report by the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) [...]
Reeves may reassure the markets, but her political future is at risk November 6, 2025 Reeves’ speech was intended to steady nerves but instead will ignite the internal struggle that defines Labour’s next phase in power, says Helen Thomas With just over three weeks to go until the Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has decided she can’t wait any longer. The pitch has to be rolled, the ground prepared, and the [...]
North Sea oil and gas production decline labelled an ’emergency’ November 5, 2025 Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has declared an oil and gas “emergency” in the North East of Scotland as she pushes the Labour government to overturn its ban on new oil and gas licenses. Badenoch has pledged to “get Britain drilling again” in a new campaign in partnership with the Scottish Conservatives. The announcement marks the [...]
Cut interest rates by 25 basis points, Shadow MPC says November 5, 2025 Top economists on City AM’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) have called for interest rates to be cut to 3.75 per cent in a narrow 5-4 vote. Economists from academia, business and City giants have said that the UK’s weakening demand and easing price pressures suggested the Bank of England should look to cut interest [...]
Left and rightwing think tanks join to call for ‘pro-growth’ tax reform November 5, 2025 Several think tanks from across the political divide have joined forces to call for sweeping tax reforms in a report that seeks to prioritise productivity growth and fairness in the wider system. Economists and policy officials from the left-leaning IPPR, the right-leaning Centre for Policy Studies and the likes of the Adam Smith Institute and [...]
UK faces ‘urgent crisis’ on workplace sickness, review says November 5, 2025 The UK is facing a “quiet but urgent crisis” on workplace sickness that costs the country around seven per cent of GDP each year, a review by former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield has found. The Keep Britain Working Review, an independent report by Mayfield for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and [...]
Reeves’ deregulation agenda won’t help growth this parliament, economist warns November 5, 2025 Rachel Reeves’ deregulation agenda is unlikely to make any improvement to economic growth before the end of this parliament, a leading economist has warned, in the latest sign the government’s growth mission is running out of steam. Professor Stephen Millard, Deputy Director of the National Institute for Social and Economic Research (NIESR) said it would [...]
Four in 10 Londoners ‘ready to quit capital’ over housing costs November 5, 2025 Nearly half of the capital’s 25-45 year olds are ready to leave over unsustainably expensive housing, according to a new study. In fact, two in three are regularly borrowing money to pay housing costs, most commonly turning to credit cards, payday loans and family support, according to a new report from Pocket Living. “The pressures [...]
‘We all have to do our bit’ – Reeves primes Brits for tax hikes November 4, 2025 Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out hiking taxes on millions of Brits as she said everybody will have to “contribute” to fix the UK economy. At a speech on Tuesday, the Chancellor said this year’s Budget would look to address the low productivity, curb inflation in order to prompt fresh interest rate cuts and [...]
Labour’s assault on jobs will undermine growth November 4, 2025 Rachel Reeves is engaged in a complicated dance with the Office for Budget Responsibility in the run up to her second Budget. When the fiscal watchdog presents its scorecard on the Chancellor’s plans – and on wider government policies – the music will stop and we’ll see whether Reeves pulls off a surprising lift, or [...]