Labour turmoil and Iran war brings ‘reversal of fortunes’ for UK economy June 3, 2026 A combination of feverish political speculation and knock on effects from the war in Iran has culminated in a “reversal of fortunes” for the UK economy, as new data suggests activity across the private sector declined in May. S&P Global’s monthly survey of hundreds of firms has shown that business across services companies declined in [...]
OECD: Growth to remain below one per cent as UK economy struggles with unemployment June 3, 2026 What little growth the UK economy will experience this year will be fuelled by high government expenditure, according to the world’s top independent economic organisation. The OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for long, said public expenditure would “support the economy” even as consumer spending and business investment is set to weaken. The [...]
As it happened: Stocks jitter on stalling US-Iran talks; OECD unemployment warning June 3, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Markets are being pulled in countless directions from the conflicting information emerging around the conflict in the Middle East. The FTSE 100 managed to shrug off some of these jitters yesterday and secure a finish 0.3 per cent higher as the price of oil slipped. But this morning [...]
Tony Blair has issued a call to arms – but will Labour listen? June 3, 2026 Tony Blair’s blockbuster intervention is a reminder of a time when the government believed business was part of the solution to Britain’s problems, says Steve Rigby For entrepreneurs, looking back can be anathema. Everything is about the future – the next customer, the next acquisition, the carefully-plotted route towards a big-money exit. But for those [...]
Municipal bonds could revolutionise Britain – but there’s a catch June 3, 2026 Municipal bonds could create genuine local economic autonomy. But they require infrastructural change to work, writes Tim Focas.
This is why the City’s fintech IPO boom hasn’t happened yet June 3, 2026 Hopes remain high for a flurry of fintech listings, in this week’s column Samuel Norman takes a look at whether this could come to fruition and what could be holding it up. City officials have pinned a hefty portion of their hopes for a London Stock Market revival on the nation’s fintech stars. Rachel Reeves [...]
Delaying estate planning could cost affluent Brits over £12bn June 3, 2026 Brits who are putting off dealing with their estate planning could lose over £12bn in preventable inheritance tax from April 2027, as more middle-income earners brace to be ensnared in the tax net. Families who are in the top decile of UK wealth who do not begin estate planning until they are 70 could fail [...]
UK law clears hurdle for airlines to ban unruly passengers from travelling June 2, 2026 Airlines and the UK government are eyeing a proposal to create a national blacklist of disruptive passengers using their personal data, potentially curbing their access to flights. The scheme, currently being developed by officials from the Department for Transport and the Home Office, would require airlines to notify the government when a passenger is disruptive. [...]
Andrew Bailey warns on AI: ‘Everybody is currently priced to be a winner’ June 2, 2026 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has suggested that the UK’s growth hopes hinge on productivity gains from a mass AI technology roll-out although he warned that investment levels carried “substantial risks” for market prices. Bailey, who is also the head of the Financial Stability Board, an international body overseeing markets, echoed deputy governor Sarah [...]
Jobs crisis: UK unemployment to hit highest level in a decade June 2, 2026 Joblessness is set to hit its highest level in more than a decade as unemployment looks set to increase by 400,000 under the Labour government, according to a top business body. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) warns of a softening labour market, driven by falling vacancies and economic uncertainty, with unemployment projected to rise [...]