Inheritance tax changes are coming – how should you prepare? February 4, 2025 Speculation is mounting that the government may charge inheritance tax on pensions and extend the seven-year gifting rule. So how can you make sure you can pass on wealth to the next generation? Duncan Bailey explains The Budget has given businesses and individuals much to consider with announcements made around spending, national insurance contributions for [...]
‘Rachel Reeves, you must do better’: Chancellor urged to act before hospitality’s collapse February 4, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been told to take urgent action to prevent the collapse of thousands of hospitality businesses across the UK. In an open letter Sacha Lord, who was until recently Andy Burnham’s night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, said he no longer considers Labour to be the party of “business and growth”. [...]
Exclusive: Two-thirds of voters have no confidence in Rachel Reeves February 4, 2025 A majority of Brits now have little confidence in Rachel Reeves’ plan to generate economic growth despite a renewed push from the Chancellor to kickstart Britain’s ailing economy, exclusive polling for City AM has found. More than 70 per cent of voters have said they are not confident in the Chancellor’s fiscal plans and around [...]
UK’s pension wealth is being ‘squandered’, Phoenix boss warns February 4, 2025 The UK’s pension wealth is being “squandered” due to the fragmentation of the market and a lack of risk taking among money managers, the investment chief of Phoenix has warned. Writing in City AM today, Mike Eakins, chief investment officer of the FTSE 100 pensions giant, said the UK was an “outlier” compared to similar [...]
Labour optimism evaporates after bruising seven months February 4, 2025 Labour would see its majority wiped out if the country were to head to the polls today as voters turn on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves over their handling of the economy, exclusive polling for City AM has found. After romping to victory with a majority of 174 in July, Labour’s vote share has slumped [...]
Businesses welcome Reeves’ growth agenda but what about the public? February 3, 2025 Rachel Reeves is talking a good game on growth, but Labour won’t be rewarded at the ballot box unless they can help ordinary people to feel better off, says Theresa Bischof Growth is in. And so too, is business apparently. Last week, Rachel Reeves and her growth brigade took a trip to Siemens in Witney [...]
Bold action and optimism! Let’s hope the Chancellor’s confidence is contagious February 3, 2025 Promises of bold action from the Chancellor are gratefully heard in the City. Let's not let this opportunity for growth pass, writes Chris Hayward.
Astrazeneca cancels £450m vaccine plant, blaming state funding cut January 31, 2025 Astrazeneca has cancelled a planned £450m investment in a vaccine manufacturing plant in Merseyside, saying Labour have failed to match the previous government’s offer of funding. It sees the pharmaceutical firm scrap plans to expand its existing facility in Speke, as announced by then-chancellor Jeremy Hunt at last year’s March budget, as first reported by [...]
Five policies the Chancellor hopes will fire up the economy January 31, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed to going "further and faster" on kickstarting economic growth.
The Week in Business: is Reeves right to be an optimist? January 31, 2025 Rachel Reeves has been reset, but should we buy into this new optimistic Chancellor?