Primark owner says larger stores to come under pressure from rates changes September 15, 2025 The boss of Primark’s parent firm has warned the Government that proposed business rates changes are “mistaken” and heap pressure on big stores on UK high streets. George Weston, the billionaire boss of Associated British Foods (ABF), told the PA new agency that the Labour Government “should not increase taxes on businesses any more” in [...]
Reeves urged to give stamp duty holiday for fresh stock exchange listings September 14, 2025 Rachel Reeves has been urged to give a stamp duty holiday for companies when they list on London’s stock exchange as her Taskforce looks for ways to boost the beleaguered bourse. Representatives of the chancellor’s listings taskforce, which she set up after her Mansion House speech in July, have floated an up-to-five-year break on stamp [...]
US financial firms pledge investment into the UK before Trump visit September 13, 2025 US financial firms have announced investments in the UK worth £1.25 billion before Donald Trump’s state visit next week. Citi Group has confirmed it will invest £1.1 billion across its UK operations, while S&P Global will put £4 million into their Manchester offices. PayPal has confirmed a £150 million investment in product innovations and growth [...]
Astrazeneca pauses £200m Cambridge investment September 13, 2025 British drug giant Astrazeneca has paused a planned £200 million expansion of its research site in Cambridge in a fresh blow to the UK pharmaceutical industry. It comes after the pharmaceutical firm abandoned plans to invest £450 million in a vaccine plant in Merseyside earlier this year in a blow to the Government as it [...]
No 10 aware of Mandelson emails before Starmer defended him September 13, 2025 Officials at No 10 and the Foreign Office were aware of the damning emails between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein before Starmer defended him at Prime Minister’s Questions. The Foreign Office was allegedly sent details of the emails between the pair on Tuesday and passed them on to Downing Street, two days before Starmer withdrew [...]
Autumn Budget: Rachel Reeves told to scrap ‘not fit for purpose’ Lifetime ISA September 12, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that the Lifetime ISA (LISA) is “not fit for purpose and must be reformed” in the Autumn Budget. Tom Goddard, a senior associate at audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, has argued that the LISA “must be reformed to not conflict with shared ownership schemes”. The LISA [...]
Boardroom Uncovered: How Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget tax hikes are hurting businesses September 12, 2025 On this episode of Boardroom Uncovered, the chief executive of Butlin's has revealed where in the UK the holiday resort chain could open a new site in the future.
Barclays boss: UK banks are taxed too much September 12, 2025 Ahead of the Autumn Budget, Barclays’ chief executive has called on the government to curb pay rises for public sector workers and to avoid increasing taxes on banks. Speaking to the Financial Times, CS Venkatakrishnan said “we need to find a way to curb wage inflation,” and emphasised the need to curb expenditure at the [...]
UK economy sees zero growth amid Labour’s summer troubles September 12, 2025 The UK economy failed to grow in July, according to official data, with the Labour government struggling to drive growth despite its core commitment to do so. The Labour government has doubled down on its “growth mission” by making a string of new economics-focused appointments across ministerial and advisory roles, and establishing a business-friendly board [...]
FTSE 100 Live: UK GDP flatlines, Big Technologies shares tumble after legal twist September 12, 2025 Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. UK GDP flatlined in July, latest figures from the ONS show, in another setback for the Chancellor in delivering on her pledge to grow the economy. The FTSE 100 is fighting through the noise as it opened above 9,300 this morning, rising by 1.2 per cent in [...]