Why Healey will miss a £25bn bonus from better productivity October 20, 2026 The UK economy’s productivity picture has radically changed in the last year. Maurício Alencar considers what this could mean for John Healey. For weeks leading up to last year’s Budget, reports dripping from so-called Treasury sources insisted it was not Rachel Reeves’ fault that tax hikes worth billions of pounds were on the horizon. The [...]
Wealthy investors accelerate gifting amid fears of Budget tax raid October 20, 2026 Wealthy Brits are accelerating plans to gift money to family members as fears over possible tax changes in the looming Autumn Budget grow. Over 40 per cent of wealthy investors with an average wealth of £3.1m, said they have already gifted money or are seriously considering doing so over Budget worries, according to fresh analysis [...]
‘Disaster’: Advisers raise the alarm on family business tax raid October 19, 2026 John Healey’s potential tax raid on family businesses could make handing down companies to the next generation a “disaster” and damage the economy, advisers have warned. The Chancellor is reportedly considering proposals to levy income tax when business owners hand down to their children, potentially almost doubling the bill. Under current rules, transfers can be [...]
Goldman Sachs to host Badenoch for City charm offensive October 19, 2026 Kemi Badenoch will step up her business charm offensive after the Budget with a roundtable hosted by Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs, City AM can reveal. The Tory leader will co-host a lunch for founders, investors and chief executives from across the UK alongside Goldman Sachs International’s chief executive, Anthony Gutman, City AM understands. The [...]
AI minister warned UK risks becoming ‘high-value AI customer’ October 19, 2026 Britain risks becoming a “high value AI customer” rather than developing its own tech unless ministers urgently invest in domestic firms, the government’s top science advisory body has warned. In a letter to AI minister Kanishka Narayan, the Council for Science and Technology (CST) called for a national AI sovereignty plan to reduce Britain’s reliance [...]
Higher taxes will ‘kick UK fintech when it is down’, Healey warned October 19, 2026 Venture capital investors have warned that higher taxes on financial services would have trickle-down effects and “clip the wings” of Britain’s already capital-starved fintech sector. Start-up investors that fund the UK’s financial technology industry told City AM the sector’s struggles to access cash would be amplified by a tax hike on top banks and increases [...]
Healey plots Budget raid on family businesses October 19, 2026 John Healey has reportedly drawn up plans for a tax raid on family businesses ahead of his first Budget, as he scrambles to avoid spending cuts. The Chancellor is considering proposals to levy income tax when business owners hand their company down to their children, potentially almost doubling the tax bill, according to a report [...]
As it happened: European stocks slump as bond yields spike after France riots October 19, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM FTSE 100 liveblog. European bond markets have been left in the red following the shifting pressures on global markets. The 10-year yield on French bonds – a direct reflection of the government’s cost to borrow – spiked some 13 basis points to 4.9 per cent. The spread between French [...]
UK company profit warnings surge as Iran war drives up costs October 19, 2026 Profit warnings from London listed businesses reached the highest levels in nearly two years over the summer, as an energy shock brought on by the Iran war fuelled inflation. Businesses issued 65 profit warnings during the period, up from 59 in the second quarter, according to the latest analysis from EY. It also marked the [...]
MPs press competition watchdog to probe live music industry’s ‘dominant’ firms October 18, 2026 A government committee has urged the competition watchdog to launch a probe into the UK’s live music industry and the most “dominant firms”. The Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee said on 18 October it is “pressing” the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to launch a full market investigation into the live music industry in [...]