Rachel Reeves approval rating one point above Trump with UK voters, poll finds Politics Rachel Reeves’ approval ratings have slumped since March leaving her just one point more popular than US President Donald Trump with UK voters, a poll has found. The Chancellor’s net approval ratings have declined by 12 points since delivering her Spring Statement last month, leaving Reeves at net -43, just one point above Trump on [...]
BAE Systems, Qinetiq, Babcock among sliding defence stocks as Trump tariffs bite Business President Trump’s sweeping package of global tariffs has sparked a sharp decline in defence sector stocks, as markets react to the shockwaves from his decision to impose a 10 per cent levy on British exports – among other measures. The move has raised concerns on increased costs and the potential for a scarcity mindset that [...]
Reeves should be honest: income tax is going up Opinion Income tax threshold freezes are a de facto tax rise but the revenue won’t be fully realised until the end of the parliament. She should adjust rates now while there’s still time to improve public services before the next election? And fix distortive cliff edges while she’s at it, says Will Cooling Rachel Reeves has [...]
It’s Rayner to the rescue but who will build Labour’s 1.3m homes? April 2, 2025 Labour’s only hope for growth is new housebuilding – but Britain doesn’t have the workforce to deliver even the newly downgraded targets. There is an obvious solution, says Jamila Robertson In the Spring Statement, Rachel Reeves acknowledged that she will no longer be able to meet the government’s manifesto pledge to build 1.5m homes by [...]
Drones, AI, space: where to invest amid defence tech boom April 1, 2025 The world is rearming at a dizzying pace. Global defence spending has surged at an annual rate of 4.2 per cent since 2020 – that’s four times faster than pre-pandemic levels, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. By 2030, that figure is expected to hit $3.4tr, reflecting rising geopolitical tensions and the race [...]
How to get your personal finances in order before the end of the tax year April 1, 2025 As we enter the final week of the 2024-25 tax year, the good news is that investors still have time to maximise their tax-free allowances to protect their wealth from HMRC. The not-so-good news is that many savers and investors don’t seem to be aware of this, and the clock is now ticking.
Labour’s own policies undermine their ‘welfare to work’ agenda April 1, 2025 The government has made many mistakes since coming to office, but the Chancellor deserves some credit for not breaking her fiscal rules at the first opportunity. The demands from various groups (and various wings of her own party) for more borrowing or exempting certain measures from the fiscal rules were ruthlessly ignored at the Spring [...]
London’s commercial property sector is suffocating March 31, 2025 A combination of environmental regulations and falling office attendance means commercial property is struggling and the Spring Statement was a missed opportunity to turn it around, says Dan Drogman The UK’s commercial property sector is being strangled from all angles, and this year’s Spring Statement was a missed opportunity to relieve that pressure. Let’s start [...]
Noble intentions are not enough. Reeves must fess up to mistakes March 30, 2025 Reeves's good intentions mean nothing against rising inflation, meagre growth and falling employment, writes shadow secretary Helen Whately.
A low-spend way Labour can actually increase GDP? Boost morale! March 29, 2025 Consumer confidence has become a casual predictor of GDP. Labour can use this to their advantage, writes JL Partners' Callum Hunter.