Jenrick refuses to rule out bank tax September 3, 2026 Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman refused to rule out a banking tax mooted by the party’s leader Nigel Farage, who said he would hit lenders because he didn’t “like” them. Speaking at a Reform conference event organised by City industry representatives, Jenrick said the party had not committed to banking taxes. However, the party’s economic chief [...]
Reform UK chiefs ask to meet gilt holders amid bond rout September 3, 2026 Robert Jenrick has asked to meet with top traders at the likes of Barclays and Goldman Sachs in London and New York who hold UK gilts as a recent surge in borrowing costs threatens the UK’s public finances. Reform’s Treasury spokesman announced at the Reform conference that he had written to the major holders of [...]
£74m for branded condoms? UK must stop spaffing cash on foreign aid September 3, 2026 Labour is plotting to reverse cuts to foreign aid, but the UK's spending history reveals a questionable use of funds, writes Anne Strickland.
Andrew Griffith: Burnham ‘making up stories’ about my role in Truss Budget September 3, 2026 Andrew Griffith has accused Andy Burnham of “making up stories” about his involvement in the disastrous Liz Truss mini-Budget as the new Conservative shadow Chancellor fends off a barrage of attack lines from the Prime Minister following his appointment by Kemi Badenoch on Monday. Addressing the House of Commons on Tuesday and again at Prime [...]
‘Large tax hikes on the way’: How the global bond rout is boxing in Healey September 2, 2026 Chancellor John Healey is likely to roll-out “large tax hikes” at this year’s Budget due to a rout in global bond markets pushing up the cost of government borrowing, economists have said. A jump in the 10-year gilt yield to the highest level since August 2007 could “further erode” the £22.7bn level of fiscal headroom [...]
Sky-high school fees force parents to dig into pensions and savings September 1, 2026 Spiralling education costs after the government’s school fees crackdown are forcing a record number of parents to dip into their pensions and savings to keep their children at private school. According to a fresh Rathbones study, parents face a “double squeeze” having to fund higher private education fees at the expense of their own long-term [...]
The tax rumours most worrying my clients September 1, 2026 As Budget day creeps over the horizon, JMW partner Craig Harrison writes about which tax rumours are most worrying his clients.
‘Big Brother’: HMRC agents to target mansions with ponies and pools August 31, 2026 HMRC agents are set to inspect homes with ponies, scenic views and balconies in order to value homes for the “mansion tax”. Officials will be sent to properties to consider architectural styles, numbers of bedrooms and whether homes have swimming pools or tennis courts before determining whether homes should be taxed at a higher rate. [...]
Treasury ‘tells Healey’ to consider tax on banks and oil August 30, 2026 Chancellor John Healey has been presented with a plan to tax oil firms and banks further as bosses in the sectors have posted huge profits, according to reports. Healey may look to tax businesses at this year’s Budget in order to rebuild a partly-eroded £22.7bn fiscal buffer, and fill spending pledges for defence and the [...]
Lord Walker calls for Healey to cut business taxes August 30, 2026 Iceland boss Lord Richard Walker has urged Andy Burnham and John Healey to cut taxes for businesses and to stop focusing on the cost of living. Walker, who backed Labour at the last election, said Healey should ease costs for employers. The supermarket chief was the cost of living tsar under Sir Keir Starmer’s government [...]