Reeves warned ‘sin taxes’ could fail to boost tax receipts September 1, 2025 Labour officials have been warned that plans to boost government revenue by raising “sin taxes” could be judged harshly by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) this year, with industry bosses calling on the Treasury to listen to “on-the-ground concerns” before making a final decision. Reports have suggested the government could raise gambling levies later [...]
Investec raises growth forecast and backs November interest rate cut August 29, 2025 Global banking firm Investec has lifted its growth projections for the UK economy with another interest rate cut pencilled in for 2025. The financial services company expects the UK economy to grow 1.5 per cent this year and 1.6 per cent in 2026. This trumps the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast, which expects the [...]
Reeves warned tax reform would be ‘rushed’ and lead to snags August 20, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ efforts to fast-track tax reforms in the three months leading to this year’s Autumn Budget risk being “rushed” and putting Britons at a disadvantage, senior tax advisers have warned. Treasury officials are reportedly “racing” to find tax reforms to ease the burden on businesses and individuals while improving productivity forecasts from the [...]
Starmer refuses to rule out tax rises – and criticises forecasters August 6, 2025 The Prime Minister has refused to comment on whether he will break Labour’s manifesto pledges on taxes at this year’s Autumn Budget as he slapped down independent forecasters’ claims the government faced a £50bn black hole. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) claimed Rachel Reeves would miss her borrowing target by £41.2bn [...]
Immigration is top voter concern, exclusive poll says August 5, 2025 Reducing immigration became more important to voters in July, polling has shown, amid social instability over anti-migrant protests and more calls from top UK economists for a greater focus on getting Brits into the labour market before hiring overseas workers. Research by City AM/Freshwater Strategy has shown reducing immigration is the single most important issue [...]
JP Morgan: Rachel Reeves could slash headroom to avoid large tax rises July 29, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is poised to reduce her wafer-thin £9.9bn headroom even further at the Autumn Budget to avoid making sweeping tax rises, analysts at one of the world’s biggest banks have predicted. Leading think tanks and City analysts have warned that Rachel Reeves will look to raise as much as £30bn in taxes later [...]
Rachel Reeves: It’s not progressive to pay off US hedge funds for debt July 22, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said there is “nothing progressive” about paying off US hedge funds which hold government bonds, hours after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed debt interest payments in June were double levels seen at the same time last year. In a hearing at the Economic Affairs Committee, Rachel Reeves said she [...]
Keir Starmer bars Labour MPs after rebellion July 16, 2025 Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suspended at least four Labour MPs who have had a record of voting against the government in parliament. The Labour backbenchers to have been barred from the party include Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff and Rachael Maskell. Sources told The Times, which first reported the story, that the MPs [...]
OBR chief says higher tax is ‘not good’ for growth – or the government July 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves risks harming the UK economy’s potential to grow by inflicting extra tax hikes on Brits, the fiscal watchdog has warned, adding that the government risks losing out on returns in the longer run. Rachel Reeves looks poised to raise taxes at this year’s Autumn Budget as leading City analysts believe the higher [...]
Rachel Reeves risks ‘serious damage’ with tax hikes, OBR member warns July 11, 2025 Fears of another Rachel Reeves’ tax raid are growing after fresh figures revealed the economy shrank in May, but a member of the OBR has warned the Chancellor against drastic measures, including tax hikes. The Chancellor is facing renewed pressure, with economists warning that the government’s £190bn spending splurge, sporadic U-turns, and poor growth figures are set [...]