UK economy flatlines in November as Labour growth push fails November 21, 2025 The UK economy flatlined in November, researchers have suggested, as pre-Budget nerves have hit growth across the private sector. S&P Global’s initial estimate for its purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has shown the UK economy just inching up, with firms pausing orders and investment plans before Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces sweeping tax hikes and possible spending [...]
Babcock shares wobble as investors split on performance November 21, 2025 Engineering and defence giant Babcock has seen its share prices wobble in morning trading, as investors were split over the group’s first half of the year performance. The FTSE 100 company saw revenue shoot up 7 per cent to £2.54bn, while profit before tax climbed 19 per cent to £201.1m, bolstered by strong performances from [...]
PM set to formally approve new Chinese embassy November 21, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer is expected to give his formal seal of approval to a controversial new Chinese mega-embassy at Royal Mint Court, with the backing of the security services. According to a report in The Times, the approval is set to be a ‘formality’. The Home Office and Foreign Office – and, by extension, MI5 [...]
Join City AM and guests for a LIVE broadcast on Budget Day November 21, 2025 After months of speculation and mounting political drama, Rachel Reeves will deliver her second Budget at noon on Wednesday 26 November. City AM‘s team will bring you all the news throughout the day on our Live Blog via CityAM.com and the City AM App, along with a special livestream broadcast from the heart of the [...]
Fiscal uncertainty has become one of Britain’s biggest taxes November 21, 2025 Britain's bi-annual tradition of holding a fiscal circus is paralysing investment and creating its own tax, writes Liam Byrne MP.
UK government borrowing overshoots in Budget blow November 21, 2025 UK government borrowing exceeded expectations in October, with benefits and public sector wages intensifying pressures on the public purse ahead of Rachel Reeves’ Budget next Wednesday. The Office for National Statistics showed that public sector net borrowing had reached £17.4bn in the last set of public finances data that government officials will see before Wednesday’s [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Asos shares tumble, retail sales drop, Babcock sinks November 21, 2025 Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. With just days to go before the Budget, there is increasing investor nervousness about what surprises could be in-store for businesses. Few are expecting those surprises to be pleasant. Speaking to the paper yesterday, the boss of the world’s biggest platinum group metals recycler warned Rachel Reeves [...]
London’s largest sub-region: Why thinking locally could propel growth November 21, 2025 Comprising nine London boroughs, Local London contributes £60bn to the economy annually, yet remains overlooked, writes Anthony Okereke.
Britain needs a Budget for tax certainty November 21, 2025 | City Talk The upcoming Budget should move beyond specific tax adjustments to adopt a broader, more principled reform that aligns with the long-term Industrial Strategy and aims to create a more stable, predictable tax system, says Chris Sanger Much of the speculation surrounding the contents of the Chancellor’s red box on 26 November remains firmly fixed on [...]
Reeves vows to halve consultancy bill, but government can’t track its spending November 21, 2025 Despite the government setting an ambitious target to halve overall spending on consultants, a new report suggests, the lack of consistent data hinders efforts to track progress toward spending targets. Rachel Reeves has set targets to halve the UK government’s overall spending on consultants in 2025-26 and to save £550m in 2024-25, aiming for £700m [...]