By: Mauricio Alencar

Politics and Economics Reporter Maurício Alencar is City AM’s Politics and Economics Reporter. He covers the state's relationship with the City of London and UK business, jumping between Westminster and the Square Mile. He picks up all stories on 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 decision-makers. He used to cover sports, foreign news and home news at various publications – plus investigations, which he plans to continue to pursue.

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‘No doubt’ foreign office would have advised against Mandelson appointment

September 11, 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sacked Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US after more leaked emails brought fresh focus on his close personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement, the Foreign Office said the emails “show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from [...]
Former Margaret Thatcher adviser and top lobbyist Kevin Bell dies

September 11, 2025

One of Margaret Thatcher’s advisers and a well-known City figure, Kevin Bell, has died. Bell, who died aged 68, was an influential lobbyist and respected among conservative thinkers across Westminster. He led campaign groups and public affairs giants throughout his career, heading up the likes of Fleishman-Hillard and Maitland Political. Bell was also worldwide president [...]
Rachel Reeves explores ‘pro-growth tax reforms’ to business rates

September 11, 2025

Rachel Reeves will explore “fixing” cliff-edge business rates, which make small businesses pay higher taxes upon opening a second property, as part of reforms she has described as “pro-growth.” The Chancellor is reviewing changes to the small business rates relief, with a decision expected to be announced at the Autumn Budget on 26 November. Treasury [...]
Tube strikes: Union leader says £72,000 salary is not enough

September 10, 2025

RMT chief Eddie Dempsey has claimed that tube drivers on £72,000 a year were not making enough to buy a home in London, reflecting the union boss’ militant position on ongoing tube strikes. The union boss told Times Radio he made “no apologies” for the ongoing strike as he said the salary, which is around [...]
Starmer backs Mandelson amid calls for his sacking

September 10, 2025

Keir Starmer has said he has “full confidence” in the UK’s ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson despite calls from his own backbenches for him to be sacked over new revelations about his links to the notorious Jeffrey Epstein. The prime minister said “due process” was followed around Mandelson’s appointment to his key ambassadorial role [...]
Mervyn King: UK debt is ‘not in a comfortable position’

September 10, 2025

The UK’s national debt load is “not in a comfortable position” and the government faces a “real challenge” in managing fiscal policy, the former Governor of the Bank of England has said. Speaking to Lords at a committee hearing on Wednesday, Mervyn King said the UK was in a “much stronger position” before the financial [...]
FCA plans to allow contactless payment limits above £100

September 10, 2025

Card providers are set to be given the powers to set their own limits on contactless payments, which are currently set at £100, under proposals set out by the City regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed that it will consult industry on whether the rules should be relaxed as part of its task [...]
Goldman Sachs: Tax increases will not improve public finances

September 10, 2025

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned by a leading Wall Street bank that hiking taxes later this year will not improve the state of public finances. Reeves is widely expected to raise taxes by at least £20bn at this year’s Autumn Budget, with property owners, gambling companies and pension pots likely to be hit with [...]
Kemi Badenoch: Labour presiding over ‘tax doom loop’

September 9, 2025

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the Labour government of leading the UK into an economic crisis of low growth and high spending, as she urged the government to prioritise deep welfare cuts over increasing taxes at the Autumn Budget. In a speech delivered to the Institute of Chartered Accountants’ Hall, Badenoch called out the [...]
Rachel Reeves defends Labour against bond market selloff

September 9, 2025

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has launched a defence of Labour’s economic record and blamed her Tory predecessors for the mass selloff in the gilt market despite growing criticism of the government’s fiscal policies. In a parliamentary session before MPs, Reeves said the government had made “fully funded and fully costed” plans to support its £190bn splurge [...]

Back to basics: Sainsbury’s gradual retreat from the British high street

Champions Cup rugby team hacked in ransom attack with player data at risk

A tribute to wine legend Matthew Jukes by his friend Libby Brodie

By: Mauricio Alencar

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