How worried should Ed Miliband be about the CBI’s net zero U-turn? June 12, 2025 Is the CBI’s about-face on the cost of net zero a case of shameless opportunism or an overdue conversion to common sense, asks James Ford We are arguably living in an age of screeching political U-turns. The government’s abrupt volte-face over withdrawing the Winter Fuel Allowance is probably the most egregious example. Others would include [...]
TfL gets £2bn – but no timetable for Bakerloo Line and DLR extension June 11, 2025 Transport for London (TfL) has welcomed a £2bn four-year funding settlement from the government as part of the long-awaited Spending Review. London’s transport operator had been pushing for a multi-year capital funding agreement similar to those at Network Rail and National Highways for years. The government said it is the largest settlement in over a [...]
Spending Review: Khan slams lack of Met and infrastructure cash June 11, 2025 Sir Sadiq Khan has launched a scathing assessment of the Chancellor’s long-awaited Spending Review, warning it will strangle his ability to deliver new affordable homes and create jobs, and mean fewer police officers on the capital’s streets. In a statement released soon after Rachel Reeves concluded her speech, London’s newly-knighted mayor said he was “concerned” [...]
Spending Review: Reeves leaves London short-changed June 11, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ inaugural Spending Review fell short for London, the capital’s business advocacy group has said. Reeves’ announcements on infrastructure, transport and skills were received warmly but BusinessLDN has said the Chancellor had failed to fully deliver, leaving the capital “short-changed”. The Spending Review included a four-year settlement for Transport for London with the [...]
Spending Review: Colossal £25bn for HS2 eclipses other transport pledges June 11, 2025 HS2’s colossal funding package eclipses all other railway investment pledges that Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her Spending Review. Reeves pledged £3.5bn investment into the Transpennine route upgrade and £2.5bn for East-West rail as part of the Spending Review. The Chancellor also set out plans to “take forward” the UK’s ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail, [...]
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 [...]
Reeves vows to ‘renew’ Britain as Tories say it’s just ‘borrow and spend’ June 10, 2025 Rachel Reeves is expected to focus on regional growth as she unveils £113bn in capital investment as part of her Spending Review on Wednesday. The Chancellor will outline some of the government’s key priorities and will pledge investment aimed at ensuring “people can see a doctor when they need one, know that they are secure [...]
Firstgroup shurgs off rail nationalisation with open access growth June 10, 2025 Firstgroup shares soared more than eight per cent on Tuesday after the transport giant reported a bumper set of annual results. Profit came in ahead of expectations as management launched a £50m share buyback programme. Shares are now up close to a third this year to date. Also encouraging for investors was “further growth in [...]
London to lose out on major local growth funding in Spending Review June 10, 2025 The London Mayor has doubled down on his crusade against the terms mandated by the Treasury’s Spending Review amid concerns over losing access to local growth funds. London and other English regions could lose access to the £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Growth Hub Funding, and the £4.8bn Levelling-Up Fund. A source close to the [...]
Firstgroup: Profit at Avanti West Coast owner beats expectations June 10, 2025 Transport giant Firstgroup has extended its share buyback program by £50m after annual revenue came in ahead of forecasts. The additional £50m buyback program follows Firstgroup’s return of £92m to shareholders in the 2025 financial year. The group also raised its dividend to 6.5p, up from 5.5p last year. The FTSE 250 company told markets [...]