UK businesses accelerate layoffs amid AI surge and legislative uncertainty November 6, 2025 The number of proposed mass dismissal programmes in the UK has risen by five per cent in the last year, driven by the ongoing Employment Rights Bill and the increasing adoption of AI. The number of proposed mass dismissal programmes rose to 3,715 in 2024/25, up from 3,546 in the previous year, according to data [...]
Bank of England holds interest rates at four per cent amid Budget fears November 6, 2025 The Bank of England has held interest rates at four per cent amid caution around high inflation levels ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ crucial Budget in three weeks. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 5-4 to hold interest rates as Governor Andrew Bailey, who made the deciding call at the latest meeting, said he [...]
Rachel Reeves must resign if she hikes income tax November 6, 2025 Exactly a year ago today, which was exactly a week after Rachel Reeves’ first Budget – I wrote that the Chancellor’s policies would give Brits the hangover from hell. So, one year on, how are you feeling? My reference to a hangover was inspired by the government’s absurd post-Budget boast that they’d taken a penny [...]
UK fintech Wise profit falls amid shifting primary listing to US November 6, 2025 Money transfer firm Wise took a hit to profit in the first half of the year amid its move to shift its primary listing to New York. The fintech darling recorded a 13 per cent reduction in pre-tax profit at £254.6m despite soaring numbers in customers and volume. Marketing investment increased 59 per cent to [...]
Bank of England Live: Bailey refuses to confirm if Budget influenced rates decision November 6, 2025 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Andrew Bailey has refused to confirm whether the upcoming Budget and Rachel Reeves’ recent comments influenced his decision on interest rates. The Bank of England has held interest rates at four per cent in its final decision before the Autumn Budget. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted [...]
Daily Mail owner moves assets offshore ahead of Budget November 6, 2025 The owner of the Daily Mail has moved hundreds of millions of pounds worth of assets to its newly created offshore parent ahead of the November Budget, City AM has found. Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), which owns a host of publications including The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and the I newspaper, sold [...]
Business chiefs tell Reeves to make ‘unpopular’ tax decision November 6, 2025 Business chiefs have urged Rachel Reeves to take a bolder approach at the Budget and consider “unpopular” decisions to break Labour Party manifesto commitments. Members across the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), one of the UK’s largest industry groups, have urged the Chancellor to focus on boosting investment and productivity for the long-haul. Business leaders [...]
OBR should focus more on policy growth ‘upsides’ – says Tony Blair think tank November 6, 2025 The Government must force the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to take more account of policy “upsides” when assessing an impact on growth, Tony Blair’s think tank has said. The Treasury watchdog should be required to be bolder in predicting growth to reward more ambitious economic policies, a report by the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) [...]
Reeves may reassure the markets, but her political future is at risk November 6, 2025 Reeves’ speech was intended to steady nerves but instead will ignite the internal struggle that defines Labour’s next phase in power, says Helen Thomas With just over three weeks to go until the Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has decided she can’t wait any longer. The pitch has to be rolled, the ground prepared, and the [...]
Pub closures reach new high as hospitality braces for Budget November 6, 2025 Pubs and bars are closing at the fastest rate seen this century, fresh City AM analysis has found, as rising costs squeeze many in the hospitality sector to the point of collapse. The number of British pubs and bar businesses appointing liquidators or administrators surged to 449 in the first 10 months of the year, [...]