Tax hikes push firms to automate jobs, says top UK recruiter October 1, 2025 Tax hikes and wage pressures are putting Brits at risk of losing roles to automation and offshoring, a top UK recruitment firm has warned. Hays has warned Britain is becoming “unattractive to hire people permanently” as employer costs mounted over the last year. “Wage pressures and national insurance changes are pushing employers to explore automation [...]
‘It’s a desert out there’: London sinks to 23rd in IPO venue rankings September 30, 2025 The pace with which London is losing its status as a global financial markets hub has been laid bare after the capital fell to as low as 23rd in a global ranking of IPO destinations. Just £184m was raised on the London Stock Exchange in the first nine months of the year, a far cry from [...]
Keir Starmer ramps up attack on Reform in vow to ‘renew Britain’ September 30, 2025 Prime Minister Keir Starmer ramped up his attacks on Reform as he called for Brits to unite behind the government’s mission to “renew” the country. In a make or break speech to Labour Party members, Starmer said the country was at a crossroads moment to deliver “renewal” – though he pushed back against claims Britain [...]
Brits over £200 worse off as cost of living crisis continues September 30, 2025 Brits have found themselves over £200 worse off each month compared to last year, as they continue to suffer the consequences of the cost of living crisis. According to the latest report from specialist bank Shawbrook, the average UK adult is suffering a deficit of £224 each month. Nearly 40 per cent of people confirmed [...]
Global talent visa: The migrants the UK really wants September 30, 2025 Keir Starmer’s great triumph – perhaps his only success – lies in his smart diplomacy with President Donald Trump. As Trump has moved to obliterate the world order, Starmer has made use of his soft spot for the UK. Now the Prime Minister is being urged to take advantage of Trump’s blind spot. In the [...]
Business sentiment sours as firms brace for tax hikes September 30, 2025 Business sentiment slumped in September as firms were braced for a fresh round of tax hikes in the autumn Budget. Private sector confidence slipped from 54 per cent to 42 per cent, according to the Lloyds Business Barometer survey, data which is typically seen as more cheery than rival surveys. Economic optimism edged down for [...]
Ruffer co-founder retires after 30 years at investment firm September 30, 2025 Jonathan Ruffer, co-founder of the Ruffer investment firm, will step down as chair at the end of the year, after more than three decades at the London-based business. Henry Maxey, Ruffer’s co-chief investment officer, will become chair from the start of next year, in addition to his other position. The firm, which manages £19bn of [...]
Trump launches fresh tariffs as government shutdown looms September 30, 2025 In a frenetic 24 hours for the President, Donald Trump has launched fresh tariffs on the US’s trading partners as his government looks to be marching towards shutdown. The White House has said it will charge a 10 per cent tariff on foreign softwood lumber and timber, used in a wide variety of building materials, [...]
UK economy stalls in second quarter September 30, 2025 The UK economy grew at a sluggish pace of 0.3 per cent in the second quarter of the year, official data has shown, another major setback for Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ as she hopes to oversee higher growth. The Office for National Statistics left its growth figure unchanged from a previous estimate as it confirmed its [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Asos and Close Brothers lead City stocks’ fall as economic growth slows September 30, 2025 Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. When Rachel Reeves prepared her inaugural budget last year, she had little in the way of good news to impart to the people of Britain. The chancellor said she’d been left a bad inheritance, and had to raise tens of billions of pounds in extra taxes to plug spending [...]