The huge costs facing Andy Burnham – and the financial tightrope he must walk Politics Andy Burnham said he didn’t set out to deliver a “tub-thumping conference speech” but it was packed with huge pledges to take control over utilities and expand the state. Maurício Alencar considers just how costly his promises are in the long term – and in the next month. Andy Burnham had all the goodies for [...]
Burnham pledges to reform triple lock to fund new National Care Service Politics Andy Burnham has said Labour will drop the triple lock on state pensions in its manifesto for the next election in order to fund a sweeping new National Care Service. In his address to party members, Burnham said the party would link a rise in the state pension to inflation or 2.5 per cent every [...]
British Airways defeats HMRC in £5.8m Heathrow cabin crew tax dispute Tax British Airways has won a tax battle against HMRC over whether costs tied to cabin crew accommodation at London Heathrow Airport were subject to £5.8m in income tax and national insurance contributions. Following an appeal in June, the Upper Tribunal ruled in favour of the airline on Monday, dismissing the tax authority’s claim and finding [...]
Legal sector warns against tax ‘raid’ proposal on client account interest ahead of Budget September 29, 2026 London’s legal sector has sounded the alarm over government plans to cut interest on law firms’ client accounts to fund the justice department, warning it could drive some law firms out of business. The Ministry of Justice’s consultation on a proposal to introduce an Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts Scheme (ICLA) closed in March after [...]
Revolut and Monzo urge Healey to raise bank tax threshold September 28, 2026 Revolut, Monzo and Shawbrook are among a raft of challenger banks calling for John Healey to raise the threshold at which UK lenders are hit with an additional tax grab. The group – which also includes Investec, Aldemore and OSB – have written to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget in a bid to remove [...]
Wealth advisers battle client fears as Budget tax speculation grows September 28, 2026 Wealth advisers are being hit with an influx of questions over tax changes as speculation over what may be announced in next month’s Autumn Budget continues to grow. Wealth and asset managers across the City are reporting a surge in conversations with affluent clients who are becoming worried about potential tax changes which could affect [...]
UK has ‘low capital gains tax rates’, Healey says September 27, 2026 The UK enjoys the lowest capital gains tax rate of any major European economy, Chancellor John Healey has said, raising the prospect of another hike at the Budget. Healey has said he wanted to improve the UK’s economic fortunes yet pointed to the UK’s competitiveness on capital taxes when speaking about business confidence. He told [...]
VW-backed car hire giant plunges to £43m loss as tax hikes bite September 25, 2026 One of the UK’s biggest car hire businesses has taken aim at government tax hikes after it plunged to a £43.2m loss. Europcar UK, which is backed by German carmaker VW, recorded a profit of £7m in 2024 but its fortunes went into reverse gear a year later amid rising costs and weak demand. Europcar [...]
OBR chief: Public ‘have not lowered their expectations about what the state can do’ September 24, 2026 A top economist at the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has sent a warning on the effect more tax rises could have on growth and on the public’s expectations about “what the state can do for them”. Professor David Miles, who is one of three top members at the independent fiscal watchdog, said that the [...]
Founders should not be ‘put off’ by inheritance tax, says Treasury minister September 24, 2026 A senior Treasury minister, while praising the state of the UK economy, has said entrepreneurs should not be “put off” by inheritance tax. Emma Reynolds, the chief secretary to the Treasury, on Thursday, at a visit to Numatic International, the makers of the Henry vacuum cleaner, said entrepreneurs should not be “put off” by the [...]