Living standards warning: ‘the decade looks bleak’ June 26, 2025 British families will not see their income grow in the next five years while pensioners will be £1,500 better off, economic researchers have projected in a “bleak” analysis that cast a shadow over government plans to boost households’ budgets. Chancellor Reeves claimed at this year’s Spring Statement that Britons would be £500 better off each [...]
Sunny spring boosts grocers as Brits buy 2,400 packs of strawberries every minute June 24, 2025 The UK’s unusual burst of sun boosted purchases of fruit and ice lollies this spring, although food inflation continued to soar at the UK’s grocers. Higher prices for fresh meats, chocolate and butters drove food inflation to 4.7 per cent, its highest level since February 2024, according to data insights group Kantar. But Fraser McKevitt, [...]
The centre-right is in retreat across Europe: here’s how to restore it June 19, 2025 The centre-right dominated post-war European politics, but those days are over. To beat populist insurgents, conservatives must remember the ten Cs, says Joe Harrison Squeezed between Labour and Reform, the Tories are in a desperate struggle for political breathing room. It is tempting to pin this relevance crisis on past blunders – Liz Truss’s infamous [...]
TACO investors: Don’t bet too much on Trump-always-chickens-out trade June 18, 2025 Investors betting on Trump climbing down may be too optimistic, writes Hargreaves Lansdown's Susannah Streeter in today's Notebook.
Rachel Reeves mulls inheritance tax U-turn as non-doms flee June 17, 2025 Rachel Reeves is reportedly mulling over changes to inheritance tax (IHT) on non-doms for assets held around the world, as pressure has ramped up from the City. That’s according to a report in the Financial Times, with “tweaks” to current rules to stem the UK’s haemorrhaging of non-doms. This potential U-turn follows pressure on the [...]
Reeves’ tax hikes lead to spike in pubs going bust June 16, 2025 The series of tax hikes introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Autumn Budget last year has contributed to a spike in pubs going bust across the UK in April, according to new figures. A total of 67 pubs closed down during the month – the highest number since July 2024 when 75 entered insolvency [...]
Brits to spend half a year waiting for Tax Freedom Day after Labour tax hikes June 12, 2025 Tax Freedom Day is set to be on the latest ever date within a matter of years, fresh research has revealed, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves showing no signs of cutting taxes in the near future, given inflated spending. Reeves unveiled billions more cash to be injected into several departments at yesterday’s Spending Review while funding [...]
Spending Review: Gilt yields dip in relief for Rachel Reeves June 11, 2025 Gilt yields fell in the minutes following the publication of the government’s Spending Review, paring back earlier rises and raising hopes the Chancellor had placated markets over her splurge on infrastructure, energy and healthcare spending. The 10-year UK government bond yield nudged down from 4.61 per cent to 4.55 per cent after the Spending Review [...]
Reeves’ Spending Review: Spend now, tax later? June 11, 2025 Cash will be splashed across transport, energy, and healthcare under plans laid out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Spending Review. Reeves described the plans, which will see an extra £190bn in government spending, as “a credible plan for the renewal of Britain.” But Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride warned the spending splurge would spark tax [...]
Spending Review: Reeves splashes cash across transport, healthcare and energy June 11, 2025 Rachel Reeves has insisted her fiscal rules are “non-negotiable” as the Chancellor splurged on transport, tech and energy investment in her Spending Review, paving the way for further tax hikes in the autumn. Reeves said she made “the choices necessary to fix the foundations of our economy” accusing the previous government of leaving a “£22bn [...]