Bank of England cuts interest rate in split decision May 8, 2025 The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4.25 per cent in a split decision dividing hawks and doves. The Bank’s policymakers suggested that President Trump’s aggressive tariffs on China were “more likely to be disinflationary than inflationary”, with price growth expected to level off to its two per cent target by the end [...]
High-tax Britain is losing the race for global talent April 29, 2025 High taxes, fiscal drag and the cost of living mean London is no longer the destination of choice for skilled employees – and competitors like the Basque Country are feeling the benefits, says Ivan Jimenez I’m a proud native of the Basque Country in northern Spain, but having spent a lot of time in the [...]
Why Donald Trump’s ‘bucks for babies’ plan won’t work April 29, 2025 Donald Trump is proposing a $5,000 “baby bonus” to reverse America’s plunging birthrates, but it’s an approach that has failed everywhere it’s been tried, says Eliza Filby Elon Musk calls it a crisis more serious than climate change. US Vice President JD Vance warns of the “rejection of the American family”. Now Donald Trump is [...]
US tariffs threaten to derail UK economic growth, EY warns April 28, 2025 UK economic growth could slow sharply over the next two years as US tariffs weigh heavy on spending and investment, and uncertainty washes over households and businesses, new forecasts show. Recovery from a period of stagnant growth will be directly hampered by US President Donald Trump’s plans, EY Item Club said in a new report. [...]
Green shoots for jobs market as both vacancies and wages rise April 28, 2025 Job vacancies have grown for a second straight month in a positive sign for the UK economy, although retail has continued to struggle. Vacancies grew year-on-year for the first time since July 2022, up 1.03 per cent to 871,168, according to Adzuna. Average salaries similarly continued climbing to £41,962 in March 2025, a 1.12 per [...]
Zopa Bank: UK fintech doubles profit amid IPO speculation April 24, 2025 Digital bank Zopa doubled its pre-tax profit in its second full year of profitability as the London fintech continued its upward trajectory ahead of a possible IPO. The Canary Wharf-based business pocketed £34.2m in the 2024 financial year, up from £16.8m in 2023. Revenue grew 30.2 per cent to £303.4m. This was driven by an [...]
Scrap the GLA and abolish the Mayor of London April 22, 2025 25 years after Tony Blair created them, it’s time to admit that the Mayor and the GLA have fundamentally failed to deliver better transport, better policing and a credible growth agenda for London, says Tony Lodge Londoners have spent the last month nervously opening their council tax bills. Readers will know it is a relatively [...]
The Debate: Should businesses put purpose above profit? April 16, 2025 It's capitalism's age-old question, should businesses prioritise purpose over profit? Two writers hash it out in this week's Debate.
Why the UK can’t get a grip of its energy crisis April 14, 2025 A months-long cost-of-living crisis, state bailouts of consumer energy bills, endless planning rows, judicial interventions and now the near-collapse of Britain’s only manufacturer of virgin steel all show different sides to the UK’s ongoing energy crisis. Its dependency on foreign imports, poor planning of infrastructure and lack of control over soaring bills means the extent [...]
Life on the edge: A deep dive into the crazy world of Margate April 10, 2025 Five years ago, some dilapidated public urinals in a park in Margate were sold at auction by the council to a private bidder for £11,000. The shabby little structure is barely visible from the path, a graffitied block hidden behind shrubs with weeds winding through the roof and floor. The original glazed urinals are exposed [...]