To find out who’s to blame for economic uncertainty, reeves should look in the mirror July 2, 2025 Household spending is down £50bn since last year. It’s hardly surprising there’s so much uncertainty in the economy given the relentless negativity of the Chancellor herself, says Paul Ormerod Households in Britain are still saving large chunks of their incomes. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed this week that the percentage of income saved [...]
We will all pay the price for Starmer’s weakness on welfare July 2, 2025 Keir Starmer is a weak Prime Minister and parliament has proved it can’t condone any reduction in public spending. This will end very badly, says Simon Clarke The collapse of Labour’s plans for welfare reform marks the end of its first year in government – and perhaps the end of any kind of serious reforming [...]
Starmer abandons key welfare reforms July 1, 2025 Keir Starmer has suffered a crushing blow to his authority after rebel Labour MPs forced him to effectively abandon his flagship welfare reform proposals after chaotic scenes in the House of Commons. Just 90 minutes before the vote, and several hours into a heated debate, the government announced it was pulling a key measure of [...]
National Wealth Fund boss calls for public finance consolidation July 1, 2025 The boss of Labour’s National Wealth Fund has urged the government to remain open to consolidation of public finance institutions in a bid to ease confusion for the private sector. In a hearing on Tuesday, the chief executive of the National Wealth Fund (NWF) John Flint told MPs he would “encourage” the Treasury “not to [...]
How to solve the UK’s non-dom conundrum July 1, 2025 After industry experts poured cold water on Reform’s ‘Britannia Card’, and amid rumours the Chancellor is examining options to row back on elements of her non-dom reforms, Ali Lyon asks what policies might be on the table – and whether they will work. As Nigel Farage stepped up to a mundane-looking podium in a stuffy [...]
Government pledges to back UK fintech with regulation overhaul July 1, 2025 The government has pledged a regulation shakeup to support UK fintech as it seeks to slash the red tape blocking innovation. Speaking at City Week, technology secretary Peter Kyle said the government’s new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) would develop new smart tools to make navigating regulatory procedures “faster, clearer and more accessible”. This will include [...]
Manufacturers fear Labour government will ‘derail growth’ July 1, 2025 Manufacturers continued to see output decline in June, fresh data has shown, as most business owners are now looking at how they can grow under the Labour government. The UK government last week unveiled its industrial strategy aimed at giving high-growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing confidence over the next ten years. But fresh research [...]
Arnold Clark counts the cost of Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes July 1, 2025 Car dealership giant Arnold Clark has revealed the tax hikes announced by Rachel Reeves in her first Budget as Chancellor will cost it an extra £30m a year. The Glasgow-headquartered group said the increase in employer’s National Insurance contributions and the rise in the National Minimum Wage will mainly be responsible for the rise. Arnold [...]
£1.4 trillion in public spending won’t make Britain a better country July 1, 2025 Following the government’s U-tun on welfare reform, Labour’s spending plans simply don’t add up, says Karl Williams After the government’s latest U-turn, the question on many lips is: how long can Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves go on like this? But a more pertinent question might be: how long can the country go on like [...]
Why can’t Keir Starmer lead? July 1, 2025 Later this week, Keir Starmer will celebrate the one year anniversary of his thumping election victory. Although he constantly tells journalists that he “doesn’t do” self reflection, if he does choose to recognise this political milestone he’ll surely be unnerved to consider that it’s less a case of “look how much we’ve achieved” and more [...]