Cliff-edge warning: Fewer than 10 per cent of Brits to achieve a comfortable retirement June 3, 2026 Large numbers of Brits are at risk of facing a retirement ‘cliff edge’ as people fail to save enough to achieve a moderate or comfortable retirement. For someone living on their own, a comfortable lifestyle would require an annual income of £45,400, a level only nine per cent of Brits are on track to hit, [...]
Brits back Blair’s growth calls – yet are squeamish over welfare cuts June 1, 2026 Most Britons back Tony Blair’s demands to prioritise cheaper energy over net zero and support the private sector to boost growth, yet are squeamish over slashing disability payments and reforming the triple lock pension, polling has shown. Following up on Tony Blair’s rallying call for potential Labour leadership contenders to focus on growth, City AM/Freshwater [...]
Older women at risk of running out of money as gender wealth gap widens with age May 19, 2026 Older women remain at risk of retiring without enough capital, despite being further into their careers, as the gender wealth gap continues to widen as they get older. Women in the UK hold 21 per cent less wealth than men, but this doubles to 42 per cent by age 64, according to the latest research [...]
IMF tells Reeves to drop triple lock pension and make ‘fundamental’ tax reform May 18, 2026 The UN’s global financial fund has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to drop the triple lock pension and draw up “contingency” tax measures to ensure that public debt is reduced as a share of GDP. The International Monetary Fund has said that there are “risks” around spending forecasts and tax receipts, criticising the Chancellor for [...]
From pensions to healthcare: UK state spending on old age surges May 18, 2026 Government spending on the elderly has dramatically increased the size of the state, analysis by the official statistics body has shown. Fresh research by the Office for National Statistics has suggested a steady rise in spending on health and old age has contributed to a rise in government consumption as a share of GDP. In [...]
The student loan rip-off is hitting women hardest April 24, 2026 Women already earn and save materially less than men – and a student loan system that, were it nay other credit product would amount to mis-selling, is making it worse, says Gina Miller Britain’s student loan system is one of the most quietly distortionary fiscal instruments on the statute book. It applies a nine per [...]
Pensions belong to savers, not the state April 23, 2026 No government should have the power to direct where pension savings are invested, says Helen Whately Alongside the Starmer-Mandelson debacle, the everyday work of government is stumbling on. The Pension Schemes Bill, for instance, should by now be approaching the end of its legislative journey. Instead, it has run into sustained resistance in the House [...]
Inside the fintech industry’s pensions gambit April 22, 2026 The fintech industry are on the offensive and in this week’s column Samuel Norman gives an insight into the sector’s lobbying calls for pension fund allocation. London has found itself brought to a halt this week. One may have thought the Tube strikes would bring Square Mile to a standstill, too. But the lack of [...]
Anti-establishment? Reform’s triple lock pledge proves they’re more of the same April 8, 2026 If Reform is truly committed to being an anti-establishment party, a party that is serious about solving Britain’s economic woes rather than merely performing opposition then pledging to scrap the triple lock is not something that is optional – it is imperative, says Oliver Dean Just weeks ago, Reform were finally getting serious about the [...]
Graduates are the canary in the coalmine for a failing welfare system April 7, 2026 The welfare state is a Ponzi scheme that’s dependent on an ever shrinking cohort of taxpayers, says Anne Strickland Discussion about student loan unfairness has dominated the headlines over the last month, after a freeze in the repayment thresholds led to a backlash about the student loan system in general. With fiscal drag pulling more [...]