Downing Street refuses to rule out breaking Labour tax pledges October 15, 2025 Downing Street has refused to rule out breaking Labour manifesto tax pledges not to raise income tax, national insurance for workers or VAT, in a further indication that the government could look to raise revenue through one of the three big taxes. The Labour Party vowed not to raise national insurance, VAT or income tax [...]
Industry figures urge Reeves to go further with cash ISA reforms October 15, 2025 Financial industry figures have urged Rachel Reeves to go further on reforming the cash ISA, following speculation the Chancellor is looking to overhaul the system in the looming Autumn Budget. Reeves is understood to be reviving a plan to cut the tax-free limit on cash ISAs, in a bid to get people to move cash [...]
Gen Z dream of early retirement while ignoring alarm bells October 15, 2025 Young Brits are eyeing an early retirement, due to a growing belief that investing the minimum will be enough to fund their dream later life, ignoring warnings their savings are falling short. According to Standard Life, on average Gen Z hold ambitious aspirations to retire at 60, earlier than any other generation and years before [...]
Lords grill FCA on ‘deep lack of clarity’ in motor finance redress October 15, 2025 A committee of lawmakers has blasted the Financial Conduct Authority over the “deep lack of clarity” it provided over its motor finance redress scheme. Lord Forsyth, the chair of the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation committee, said at an evidence session the City watchdog had “made it considerably more complicated and costly” in its [...]
UK banks tax rate rises as fears of a budget raid spike October 15, 2025 The tax rate on the UK banking sector rose in the last financial year as the industry braces for a potential hike to its financial burden in the Autumn Budget. A fresh study from banking industry body UK Finance and PwC revealed London lender’s total tax rate rose 0.6 per cent to 46.4 per cent [...]
Rachel Reeves: We are looking at tax hikes October 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed the government is considering making tax hikes at this year’s Budget, the first time she has made the admission in public. In an interview with Sky News, Reeves admitted that the government was considering raising tax and cutting spending to fill a fiscal hole. The Chancellor said she would “always [...]
Reeves revives plan to cut cash ISA despite backlash October 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is looking to use the looming Autumn Budget to kickstart plans for a major overhaul of tax-free ISAs, in a bid to get people’s cash savings into domestic stocks. The Chancellor is understood to be reviving a plan to cut the tax-free limit on cash ISAs, potentially halving it from £20,000 to [...]
Scotch Whisky Association calls for spirits duty freeze as industry headwinds grow October 15, 2025 The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has urged the UK Government to impose a multi-year freeze on spirits duty, warning that continued inaction threatens jobs, investment and Treasury revenues. In a submission ahead of the autumn Budget, the trade body stated that recent duty increases had cost the Treasury £700m while placing a £12 tax burden [...]
Reeves to limit legal challenges to key infrastructure projects October 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ordered courts to open hearings on judicial review processes which could threaten to block critical infrastructure projects within four months of an application being made as part of a pre-Budget rush to introduce growth-inducing reforms. As part of a new set of planning-related proposals on Wednesday, the High Court will have [...]
Self-inflicted damage makes mockery of government growth pledge October 15, 2025 Back in June, before Donald Trump orchestrated a tentative peace in the Middle East, he reacted with fury to Israel and Iran’s escalating exchange of missile and drone attacks, telling reporters “they don’t know what the f**k they’re doing.” Sometimes undiplomatic language has its place, even in high-stakes diplomacy. I was reminded of this approach [...]