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 [...]
Treasury eyes ISA season for financial advice scheme rollout October 15, 2025 A flurry of fresh financial advice could be aimed at savers as soon as February as the Treasury seeks to fast-track the rollout of its flagship scheme to get more Brits investing in the stock market. In a speech to the Investment Association last night, Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby confirmed the government [...]
Will London meet tinned tuna giant Prince’s expectations? October 14, 2025 The City heaved a sigh of relief last week after tinned tuna heavyweight Princes confirmed its intention to proceed with its IPO to list on London’s main index. The group, which has a £2bn portfolio of familiar household food brands including margarine brand Flora and Olivio olive oil, expects trading to begin at the end [...]
IMF downgrades UK growth and warns inflation will be highest in G7 October 14, 2025 Inflation in the UK is set to surge above all G7 countries in the next two years while growth per capita will lag behind the average across advanced economies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted. In its World Economic Outlook report, the IMF has said that inflation in the UK will remain higher than [...]
Rachel Reeves told to scrap business rates for new profit tax in Budget October 14, 2025 A City accountancy firm has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to scrap business rates in her Autumn Budget and replace them with a new profit tax. Lubbock Fine said business rates, which have been the topic of much lobbying in recent weeks, should make way for a variable local tax on profits. The firm said [...]
UK economy set for marginal August growth October 14, 2025 The UK economy is expected to have marginally grown in August after a sharp slowdown in activity in the second half of the year. A Bloomberg poll of economists suggests the UK economy is expected to grow by just 0.1 per cent over the one-month period, with a contraction of 0.2 per cent in the [...]
Leeds Reforms trigger wave of recruitment in legal banking October 14, 2025 Job vacancies for banking lawyers are expected to soar, driven by the government’s Leeds Reforms which seek to unlock capital and overhaul the ring-fencing framework. Labour market analytics from Vacancysoft reveal that Britain’s legal sector is predicting significant growth in banking roles, both in private practice and in-house at major banks. The report projected a [...]
Revolut’s UK banking licence bid faces global risk scrutiny October 14, 2025 Revolut’s pursuit of a full UK banking licence has hit another stumbling block as regulators seek further information on the fintech’s risk controls in light of its accelerating overseas growth. Officials at the Bank of England have sought commitment from the digital banking juggernaut that it will bulk up its risk management infrastructure to match [...]