Spring Statement 2025: Workers’ rights bill ‘net negative’ for economy, OBR says March 26, 2025 The government’s workers’ rights bill will “probably [have] net negative economic impacts”, the independent fiscal watchdog has said. Labour unveiled their workers’ rights package – the Employment Rights Bill – last year, and measures were hailed by unions as “common sense” reforms for a “fairer economy”. But according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), [...]
Some UK visa and passport fees set to double from April March 26, 2025 The above-inflation increases in visa and passport fees announced in the Spring Budget have been described as “deeply disappointing.” Visitors to the UK will face a seven per cent increase for immigration and passport fees, the government has revealed. Companies also face a more than doubling in the cost of bringing in skilled overseas workers, [...]
Spring Statement 2025: City praises potential ISA reforms March 26, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in the Spring Statement that reforms to Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are on the horizon, a statement that has been welcomed by the investment industry in the City of London. “The government is looking at options for reforms to Individual Savings Accounts that get the balance right between cash and equities [...]
Spring Statement 2025: ‘Missed opportunity’ to avoid hospitality cliff edge March 26, 2025 The UK’s leading hospitality body has slammed the Spring Statement as a ‘missed opportunity’ to solve the mounting crisis in Britain’s pubs and bars. The statement contained no phasing in of higher national insurance contributions (NICs) or extra support for the sector, despite pleas from the industry. “Growth won’t just happen without a plan. Today’s [...]
Spring Statement 2025: Housing reform to pave way for GDP growth March 26, 2025 The government’s changes to housebuilding will result in a £6.8bn boost to GDP by 2029, according to OBR figures included in the Spring Statement. Chancellor Rachel Reeves called the forecast the “biggest ever” positive growth impact that the OBR has projected from a non-fiscal government policy. Changes to the UK’s housebuilding market were a cornerstone [...]
Spring Statement 2025: New growth board to oversee Britain’s defence push March 26, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed further details of plans to boost Britain’s defence industry, including reforms of the procurement system and the appointment of a new oversight board. The government had already announced an extra £2.2bn will be plugged into the military amid concerns over US President Donald Trump’s commitment to European defence. Speaking in [...]
Spring Statement 2025: Reeves makes further cuts to Universal Credit March 26, 2025 Further cuts will be made to Britain’s welfare bill – but only save the government £3.4bn rather than the £5bn originally thought – Rachel Reeves has announced in the Spring Statement. The Chancellor has confirmed there will be further reductions to the cost of benefits, and to government spending, after the Office for Budget Responsibility [...]
Private equity market bullish on resurgence in deals March 26, 2025 Private equity chiefs have become bullish for a surge in deals this year, in a rare piece of good news for the London Stock Exchange. When polled, 79 per cent of private equity general partners said they were expecting returns to rise this year, compared to just 24 per cent in 2024, data from Investec [...]
Morrisons looks to save £1bn as sales rise ahead of stores shake-up March 26, 2025 Morrisons has announced an uptick in sales amid a wide-ranging store shake-up plan which will see hundreds of jobs losses. Group like-for-like sales rose 2.1 per cent in the 13 weeks ended 26 January while total sales increased by 2.4 per cent to £4bn over the same period. The Yorkshire-headquartered grocer said it had made [...]
House prices rise at their fastest in two years March 26, 2025 New data shows that in January, house prices rose rapidly in Northern England and Yorkshire. Average UK house prices increased by 4.9 per cent to £269,000 in the 12 months to January 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This annual growth rate is up from 4.6 per cent in the 12 months [...]
