China threatens ‘consequences’ over London embassy delay October 17, 2025 China has unleashed a threat of “consequences” over the latest delay to approving its application for a highly controversial new embassy at the Royal Mint Court site in London, amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the UK and the world’s second largest economy. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian has blasted Keir Starmer for failing to [...]
FTSE 100 Live: BBVA Sabadell bid falls through, tax rises in focus October 17, 2025 Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. Rachel Reeves isn’t going to introduce a Wealth Tax, but she is going to tax the wealthy. She isn’t going to impose austerity, but she is going to get spending under control. Confused? Speculation over the contents of next month’s Budget has reached fever pitch, and it’s [...]
Over half of firms would stop hiring if Reeves hikes taxes, survey finds October 17, 2025 More than half of businesses would cut staff or stop hiring if taxes are hiked at this year’s Budget, a leading survey of accountants has found, a fresh warning that Chancellor Rachel Reeves risks inflicting further damage on the UK jobs market. Reeves has publicly said that she was considering making tax hikes at this [...]
Labour delays decision on China’s mega embassy application October 16, 2025 A decision on China’s new mega embassy next to the Tower of London has been delayed to December amid growing concerns that China is interfering with British democracy by spying on MPs and stealing classified information. The application for the new embassy at the Royal Mint Court site was set to be finalised as early [...]
Rachel Reeves and the tax and spend doom loop October 16, 2025 Rachel Reeves isn’t going to introduce a Wealth Tax, but she is going to tax the wealthy. She isn’t going to impose austerity, but she is going to get spending under control. Confused? Speculation over the contents of next month’s Budget has reached fever pitch, and it’s only going to ramp up from here. This [...]
Why cutting spending is now the only way to revive the economy October 16, 2025 With Brits stashing away cash in fear of further tax hikes under Labour, cutting spending is now the only way forward to grow the UK economy.
Security adviser made ‘independent decision’ to use Labour policy in Chinese spy statement October 16, 2025 A Labour minister has claimed the deputy national security adviser made an “independent decision” to use what appeared to be the political party manifesto’s wording in his witness statement provided to the the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding the alleged collapsed spying case. Cabinet Office minister Chris Ward doubled down on political claims that the [...]
Autumn Budget: Wealth tax would drive £100bn out of UK economy October 16, 2025 Rachel Reeves is facing renewed calls to rule out any form of wealth tax in the Autumn Budget with concerns such a move would drive £100bn out of the UK economy. The Chancellor confirmed on Wednesday higher taxes on the nation’s wealthiest would be a “part of the story” in the Budget. But fresh research [...]
Rachel Reeves: Higher taxes on wealthy ‘part of story’ for Budget October 16, 2025 Rachel Reeves has confirmed a tax grab on the UK’s wealthy will be “part of the story” for her forthcoming Autumn Budget as she dismissed critics who fear an exodus from the nation’s richest. The Chancellor has faced rallying calls to launch a cash grab on the wealthy as she looks to strum up funds [...]
UK economy grew 0.1 per cent in August October 16, 2025 The UK economy grew by 0.1 per cent in August, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures have shown, with a struggling construction sector in the month weighing down on output across the UK. The ONS data indicated on Wednesday morning the UK economy was set for a significant slowdown after an upswing in spending over [...]