Starmer to consider ways to make student loans ‘fairer’ February 25, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has suggested he was open to making the student loans system “fairer” after pressure from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Badenoch pressed Starmer on costly student loan repayments, which she suggested were at a “breaking point” for graduates. The Tories have vowed to abolish real interest rates on plan [...]
Trainline shares tumble after boss disembarks February 25, 2026 It’s the end of the line for the boss of Britain’s best-known rail ticketing app after Trainline chief executive Jody Ford said he would be quitting the business. Ford, who has been at the helm of the FTSE 250 company for more than six years, said he would stay in post until a search to [...]
James Reed: Youth unemployment crisis will have decades-long impact February 25, 2026 Those not working in their twenties are unlikely to start in their thirties. The youth unemployment crisis needs action, writes James Reed.
Low-key Spring Statement still poses risks for Rachel Reeves February 25, 2026 Just under a week from now the Chancellor will stand up and deliver the Spring Statement. We aren’t expecting any fireworks, not least because Rachel Reeves has made it clear that she only wants to preside over one major fiscal event a year, and that’s the Autumn Budget. Nevertheless, next Wednesday still has the potential [...]
Politicians and voters must wake up to reality of a zero growth economy February 25, 2026 The past six years have been the worst period for growth in normal peace time since the start of the Industrial Revolution over 200 years ago, says Paul Ormerod The latest estimates from the Office of National Statistics show virtually no growth in the size of the economy in the period October to December 2025. [...]
Reeves urged to cut bank tax as UK competitiveness lags February 25, 2026 Rachel Reeves is facing renewed calls to cut tax on the banking sector after new bombshell research laid bare the competitive disadvantage UK lenders are battling against. The Chancellor spared banks from a highly-anticipated fresh tax raid in the Autumn Budget but a new report – penned by the Association for Financial Markets (AFME) and [...]
High net-worth confidence slashed by tax changes February 25, 2026 Wealthy Brits’ faith in the UK economy has eroded dramatically in the past six months, as a perfect storm of tax rises, sluggish growth and stubbornly high interest rates continues to eat away at sentiment among affluent households. According to a a regular study of wealthy UK residents, high-net-worth individuals’ overall confidence in the economy [...]
Bank of England chief: Interest rate cut is an ‘open question’ February 24, 2026 The governor of the Bank of England has said that an interest rate cut in March was an “open question” as policymakers suggested the jobs market would remain weak over the coming months. Appearing before the Treasury Select Committee on Tuesday, Andrew Bailey said he had not seen enough evidence to back an interest rate [...]
Retail investors become largest UK investment owners as wealth managers look elsewhere February 24, 2026 Retail investors solidified their place as the largest group of investment trust owners last year, as wealth managers and institutional investors decreased their holdings. As of 2025, retail investors hold a combined £50.5bn, equivalent to a 37 per cent stake, according to the latest state of the nation report from Warhorse Partners. This was up [...]
Russia’s economy ‘in stagnation’ as war takes toll February 24, 2026 Russia’s economy has “moved into a period of stagnation” after initial war efforts boosted output in the country, amid growing hopes in the West that further sanctions have been successful in limiting its growth. Four years on from the start of President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, economists have flagged the threats faced by [...]