Scottish Widows owner: Pension funds deal risks making UK like China July 7, 2025 Labour’s flagship deal with pension funds risks making the UK economy more like China, the boss of Lloyds Banking Group has warned after its subsidiary Scottish Widows chose not to sign up to the agreement. Chancellor Rachel Reeves won the support of 17 pension funds which agreed to invest at least five per cent of [...]
Apple: UK tax bill surges as profit passes £1bn July 7, 2025 The amount Apple paid into the Treasury’s coffers surged to more than £300m for its latest financial year as its profit jumped to over £1bn. The US giant paid £303.7m in UK corporation tax in the 12 months to 28 September, 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The figure is up significantly [...]
UK becomes ‘most attractive country’ for investment as risk appetite grows July 7, 2025 The UK has risen up the ranks to become the joint top location for investment among CFOs around the world, a new survey has suggested, with financial officers open to taking on greater risks. City leaders and policymakers have widely spoken about their desire to take on bigger gambles to drive returns and improve growth [...]
Fraud is the UK’s biggest economic threat July 7, 2025 Of all the economic threats we must confront, none is so widespread as fraud, which is why the City of London is taking action.
Reform MP James McMurdock removes party whip ‘from himself’ over Covid loans investigation July 5, 2025 Reform MP James McMurdock has suspended himself as chief whip following a Sunday Times investigation into his misuse of Covid-19 government loans. McMurdock, who has represented South Basildon and East Thurrock since last July’s general election, is alleged to have borrowed tens of thousands of pounds under the government’s Bounce Back loans scheme, according to a [...]
Corporate Pride, where art thou gone? July 5, 2025 Sure, Corporate Pride was far from perfect, but I'd take the rainbow lanyards over silence, writes Geraldine Gallacher.
Exclusive: Starmer and Macron assemble top bosses for summit July 4, 2025 Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are planning to bring together 20 of their countries’ top business leaders for a cross-sector gathering as part of the French President’s first state visit to the UK, City AM can reveal. Set to take place on Wednesday, chief executives and founders from France and Britain will convene in London [...]
Apollo-backed group makes £5.7bn swoop for Pension Insurance Corporation July 4, 2025 Athora – the European insurance group backed by US private equity giant Apollo – has struck a £5.7bn takeover deal for the UK’s Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC). The acquisition will create a group with combined assets worth near £112m and covering the pensions of more than three million people across Europe. The takeover marks one [...]
CBI on hunt for Soames successor July 3, 2025 The CBI has kicked off its hunt for a new chair to succeed Rupert Soames, the man credited with saving the lobby group from the brink of collapse. The UK’s business industry body has enlisted headhunters to help with the search for Soames’ successor in one of the most prominent roles in corporate Britain. Soames, [...]
Relief for startups as government U-turns on onerous Companies House rules July 3, 2025 Small businesses are breathing a sigh of relief after it emerged the government is set to U-turn on the introduction of new onerous Companies House rules. The new rules, which were due to come into effect in April 2027, would have required small and micro companies to disclose their profit and loss statements for the [...]