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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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 [...]
Voters blame Labour for tax hikes amid gloomy outlook

December 2, 2025

A majority of voters believe that the raft of tax-raising measures unveiled at last week’s Budget prove that Labour has failed to fix the public finances after more than year in office. Senior Labour officials including Chancellor Rachel Reeves have suggested that the government faced constraints on public finances as a result of international trade [...]
OBR chair Richard Hughes resigns after leak ‘inflicted heavy damage’ on watchdog

December 1, 2025

The chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) Richard Hughes has resigned after a report provided a damning assessment of management at the top of the fiscal watchdog after it leaked its fiscal report before the Budget. Hughes, who has faced pressure from the government since the leak, said he was taking full responsibility [...]
Voters’ verdict: Tax hikes breach manifesto and Reeves should resign

December 1, 2025

Chancellor Rachel Reeves should resign following a decision to extend the freeze on income tax thresholds in a move seen by voters as a breach of Labour’s manifesto, new polling has revealed. The government is facing intense pressure over the way it conducted economic policymaking, with questions lurking over a potential breach of the Labour [...]
Starmer denies misleading public as fresh row with OBR erupts

December 1, 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has denied accusations that Chancellor Rachel Reeves misled cabinet colleagues – and the country – over the state of public finances in the lead-up to the Budget as tax rumours hinged on the belief that there was a £30bn shortfall in the fiscal headroom. In a press conference at a nursery [...]
Business confidence drops to post-pandemic lows after Budget

December 1, 2025

Business confidence in bosses’ own organisations fell to the lowest level in over five-and-a-half years after the Budget, a leading survey has suggested, as the absence of growth policies in Rachel Reeves’ statement dampened leaders’ moods. The Institute of Directors’ monthly survey indicated bosses were fearing for the worst after last Wednesday’s much-anticipated event, with [...]
OBR warns higher taxes could hit growth ‘by more than expected’

November 29, 2025

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that increasing the tax burden could leave the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR)’s key forecasts on shakier ground as it becomes harder to predict how measures hamper growth. In the small print of its Budget report, the fiscal watchdog said increasing the tax take could lead to unforeseen consequences [...]
FCA pressed to investigate Treasury over Budget briefings

November 29, 2025

The Financial Conduct Authority has been urged to wade into the row between the Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility and investigate government briefings about a so-called £20bn fiscal hole. Scottish National Party leader Stephen Flynn urged the City regulator to investigate Reeves and other Downing Street officials over “deliberately false and misleading” briefings [...]
UK government denies brain drain due to high tax burden

November 27, 2025

The UK government has denied that more Brits are leaving the country because of a higher tax burden. The Prime Minister’s spokesman denied suggestions that tens of thousands of Brits were fleeing the country due to higher taxes after the Budget raised the burden by another £26bn to a historic high. City AM analysis showed [...]

McKinsey senior partner demoted over controversial social media post

Prem Rugby: Attendances down but Newcastle Red Bulls see ticket surge

London’s new front door for growth opens in the Square Mile.

By: Maurício Alencar

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