By: Maurício Alencar

Politics and Economics Reporter Maurício Alencar is City AM’s Economics and City Reporter. He covers UK economics data ranging from inflation to immigration, as well as the Bank of England, the Treasury, business surveys, and all stories important or interesting to the City of London. He used to cover foreign news and sports at various publications – plus investigations, which he plans to continue to pursue.

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Starmer blames sweeping tax hikes on Tories

December 3, 2025

Keir Starmer blamed sweeping tax hikes at the Budget aimed at funding extra welfare spending and building a larger fiscal buffer on the previous Conservative government’s economic performance. Responding to questions from opposition leader Kemi Badenoch on whether tax rises were necessary, Starmer pointed the finger at a £16bn downgrade to productivity forecasts by the [...]
Businesses shed staff at ‘fastest rate since February’

December 3, 2025

Businesses laid off staff at the fastest rate in nine months as growth in the UK economy suffered a “renewed slowdown”, new data has indicated. S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for November suggested growth marginally changed over the month, with researchers pointing the finger at pre-Budget speculation keeping bosses on edge. The composite PMI [...]
Whitehall was ‘shambolic’ in dealing with collapsed China spy case

December 3, 2025

Whitehall officials presided over “shambolic” proceedings in the prosecution of two alleged Chinese spies, a report has suggested, with both government officials and prosecutors coming under fire over the collapse of the case. A report by parliament’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy said the collapse of the prosecution against former parliamentary researcher Christopher [...]
Londoners don’t want Sadiq Khan to run for Mayor again

December 3, 2025

The majority of Londoners do not want Sadiq Khan to run for Mayor again in 2028, new polling has shown, with 56 per cent saying London is going in the wrong direction. A City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll of London voters has shown that three in five of the capital’s residents believe that Khan should not [...]
Starmer’s approval rating tanks to new low

December 2, 2025

Keir Starmer’s approval rating has cratered to an unprecedented low as voters turned against the Prime Minister in the aftermath of the Budget. City AM/Freshwater Strategy polling has shown Starmer’s approval rating dropping to a score of -47, trailing well behind Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage. The figure is the lowest [...]
OBR chief hits out at ‘misconceptions’ in Treasury briefings

December 2, 2025

A top economist at the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has defended a decision to release a letter that contradicted anonymous Treasury briefings in media reports, adding that details in reports were “damaging” to the fiscal watchdog. David Miles, a member of the Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC), told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee that [...]
Starmer calls for ‘sober realism’ in relations with China amid embassy row

December 2, 2025

Keir Starmer said the UK’s approach to relations with China should be guided by “sober realism” in a wide-ranging foreign policy speech at Guildhall in London. At the Lady Mayor’s Banquet, Starmer said the UK had to reject a “binary choice” in being too hawkish or dovish in relations with China. After weeks of diplomatic [...]
OECD: Labour is pushing UK inflation to second highest in G7

December 2, 2025

The UK is set to suffer the second highest level of inflation in the G7 over the next year as a result of the Labour government’s decisions to pile extra costs on businesses, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said as it also warned recent tax hikes will hit growth. In its [...]
FTSE 100 Live: OBR chiefs face MP grilling; Food inflation slows

December 2, 2025

Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) admitted its “worst failure in the 15-year history” of the fiscal watchdog on Monday. This morning, from 10am, two of its remaining spokespeople will be facing a grilling from the Treasury select committee of MPs. The sensational leak of [...]
Businesses left ‘in limbo’ during Budget speculation as bosses feel bruised

December 2, 2025

The UK’s private sector was left in a state of “limbo” amid months of Budget speculation leading to delayed investment plans, a leading survey has found, underscoring claims that the government misled the public and businesses over tax rises and fiscal constraints. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)’s monthly private sector survey has revealed how [...]

FTSE 100 Live: Stocks to gain; oil drops on Trump’s Russian diesel plans

Rocket Padel raises £7m ahead of West London and East Croydon club openings

Scraping the barrel: The gold rush in whisky cask investment schemes

By: Maurício Alencar

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