Home Secretary defends PM’s immigration speech after backlash May 13, 2025 The Home Secretary has defended the Prime Minister’s choice of language after he received criticism for claiming that the UK risked becoming “an island of strangers” without major reform to the immigration system. Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who was suspended from Labour after voting against welfare reforms, posted on X: “Talk of an “island [...]
Entrepreneurs! We need YOU to back Britain May 13, 2025 Governments don’t create growth, businesses do – and it’s time for Britain’s business leaders to move beyond the negativity and back this great country, says John Caudwell I’ve always believed in Britain. Through the ups and the downs – from the boom years and the Brexit battles to the huge challenges presented by the Covid [...]
Starmer’s trade deal triumphs fail to impress UK voters May 13, 2025 With Sir Keir Starmer’s approval ratings languishing below those of both the Reform UK and Conservative leaders, Downing Street would have hoped that signing trade deals with India and the US last week could have turned the dial on the PM’s unpopularity. However, despite the diplomatic coups voters appeared unmoved by Starmer’s success on the world [...]
Treasury pushes captive insurance decision into late summer May 13, 2025 The Treasury will publish the outcome of the captive insurance consultation later this summer, City AM understands
Reform is rising rapidly, but voter frustration can only carry Farage so far May 13, 2025 Reform UK is surging ahead of Labour, but voter frustration can only carry Farage so far, writes Matthew Lesh.
Immigration reforms won’t solve labour shortages, businesses warn May 13, 2025 Government plans to draw back immigration levels and tighten criteria for visas will put efforts to fill labour shortages at risk, with leading industry groups urging Keir Starmer to fast-track apprenticeship reforms. The immigration white paper, which was published on Monday, set out plans to end specific care worker visas, strengthen the skills criteria needed [...]
Employment levels slump as Reeves’ taxes bite May 13, 2025 Employment levels deteriorated in March, official data has suggested, in signs that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ £20bn tax raid on employers has squeezed firms’ profits. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the number of payrolled employees fell by 53,000 over the first three months of the year. The early estimate of [...]
Reform UK tops latest City AM poll as Nigel Farage’s approval ratings climb May 13, 2025 Nigel Farage’s approval ratings have climbed since his party’s success in the local elections, while Reform UK has surged ahead of Labour to top the latest Freshwater Strategy/City AM poll of UK voters. Since last month’s survey, Keir Starmer’s net approval rating has seen a modest improvement from -39 to -36 while Tory leader Kemi [...]
Starmer’s just the latest to be shaped by UK’s immigration debate May 13, 2025 Immigration has shaped UK politics for the past 20 years, often in ways that surprised at the time but which appear in hindsight to make perfect sense. David Cameron’s 2010 pledge to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands set the Tory party on a collision course first with Brexit and then the subsequent [...]
Immigration reforms don’t go far enough May 13, 2025 The UK government’s immigration reforms take a step toward prioritising high-skilled migrants but fall short in scale, clarity, and immediate impact, says Iain Mansfield The government’s proposals to prioritise highly skilled immigration are welcome – the only question is whether they go far enough. Since the pandemic, the profile of immigration patterns has shifted sharply [...]