Taxing business is not the way to win the investment race September 15, 2025 Attracting investment is all about sending the right signals, and that starts with tax policy, says Chris Hayward Party conference season brings warm white wine, beige food and late nights. These festivals of politics tend to be high in rhetoric and low in substance. Businesses across the Square Mile seek more of the latter and [...]
Labour warned gambling levy changes would be ‘irrational’ September 12, 2025 Labour officials have been warned that targeting gambling centres with higher levies would push people to move online where black market websites are “often accessed via VPNs”. The government is widely expected to raise “sin taxes” at this year’s Autumn Budget following calls from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and ex Labour donor John Caudwell [...]
Boardroom Uncovered: How Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget tax hikes are hurting businesses September 12, 2025 On this episode of Boardroom Uncovered, the chief executive of Butlin's has revealed where in the UK the holiday resort chain could open a new site in the future.
HMRC loses over £800m to small business ‘phoenixing’ September 12, 2025 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has lost more than £800m – more than previously estimated – through a tax loophole open to abuse by small businesses in the UK. The practice, known as ‘phoenixing‘, is where companies are repeatedly liquidate then set up as a new, identical, debt-free business. The tax authority lost £836m to this [...]
UK economy sees zero growth amid Labour’s summer troubles September 12, 2025 The UK economy failed to grow in July, according to official data, with the Labour government struggling to drive growth despite its core commitment to do so. The Labour government has doubled down on its “growth mission” by making a string of new economics-focused appointments across ministerial and advisory roles, and establishing a business-friendly board [...]
Taxpayers give over billions for new vehicles under Motability scheme September 11, 2025 The budget for new vehicles under the Motability scheme for disabled people is higher than expenditure on school repairs across the UK, fresh analysis has indicated, in further evidence of the breakdown of the social contract. Number-crunching by the free market think tank Adam Smith Institute has shown that the scheme, which allows disabled people [...]
John Lewis blames higher taxes as it swings into the red September 11, 2025 A rise in national insurance contributions and a packaging levy has ‘significantly’ impacted John Lewis, with the retailer reporting a half-year loss despite an increase in revenue. The company, which also owns Waitrose, reported a loss before tax and exceptional items of £33m for the 26 weeks ended 26 July. It has been “significantly impacted [...]
Revealed: How much profit Amazon makes in the UK September 10, 2025 Amazon’s UK profit has been revealed – with the total estimated to be well above the £500m mark. Unusually, Jeff Bezos’ empire doesn’t file a single set of group accounts for its UK activities, instead choosing to report each company’s results separately with no parent entity in this country. The picture is also further complicated [...]
No 10 establishes ‘budget board’ to mend fractured business relations September 10, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has created a “budget board” of ministers and officials in a bid to mend broken relations with businesses and the City – and tighten his grip on economic policy. The group will meet weekly to co-ordinate ‘pro growth policies’ ahead of the looming Autumn Budget on 26 November. It is also expected [...]
Hard truths from Lord Rose and Badenoch the thorn September 10, 2025 Yesterday was a day for hard truths and straight talking. It began with City veteran Lord Rose who said the UK is “at the edge of a crisis.” The former M&S chief and Asda chair said that after working for more than 50 years, and despite a predisposition to optimism, he looks at the state [...]