Bank of England expected to hold interest rates in tight decision November 4, 2025 The Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates at four per cent despite some City forecasters suggesting that the votes of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) could tilt towards a 25 basis point cut. City traders believe the Bank will keep interest rates on hold to curb high inflation, which is nearly double [...]
Labour has ‘unbelievably harsh stance’ on big businesses November 4, 2025 It is “unbelievable” that the Labour government has “taken such a harsh stance” on big businesses, the chief executive of restaurant chain Pizza Express has said. Speaking on an up-coming episode of City AM’s Boardroom Uncovered podcast, Paula MacKenzie said the industry had been “somewhat decimated” by the Covid-19 pandemic and has then been hit [...]
‘We all have to do our bit’ – Reeves primes Brits for tax hikes November 4, 2025 Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out hiking taxes on millions of Brits as she said everybody will have to “contribute” to fix the UK economy. At a speech on Tuesday, the Chancellor said this year’s Budget would look to address the low productivity, curb inflation in order to prompt fresh interest rate cuts and [...]
ABF considers spinning off Primark November 4, 2025 Consumer goods giant ABF is considering selling off fashion brand Primark as it undertakes a ‘comprehensive review’ of the business. ABF, which founded Primark – then known as Pennies – in Dublin in 1969, said that “no decision” has been taken yet. The strategic review will be carried out with the help of the advisory [...]
British SMEs locked out of trade deal benefits as red tape bites November 3, 2025 Britain’s small businesses are failing to reap the rewards of the government’s post-Brexit trade deals, as red tape, tariffs, and weak confidence leave exports flatlining and financial distress mounting across SMEs, according to a new report. New figures from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) show that 84 per cent of firms with fewer than [...]
Pizza Hut: Restaurants arm owed £30m as 1,100 jobs lost November 3, 2025 The company behind Pizza Hut’s restaurants in the UK owed almost £30m as it collapsed with the loss of more than 1,100 jobs, it has been revealed. DC London Pie entered administration towards the end of last month with FTI Consulting appointed to oversee the process. Now, a new document has revealed the full story [...]
Is Nigel Farage right about Bank of England independence? November 3, 2025 Nigel Farage’s economic policies are neurasthenically inconsistent, but he has opened the door to a debate we need to have about whether Gordon Brown’s settlement for the Bank of England is fit for purpose, says Eliot Wilson Nigel Farage is a practised veteran at grabbing the headlines with a provocative-sounding but ultimately empty remark. Speaking [...]
UK unemployment rate to hit 5 per cent next year, EY predicts November 3, 2025 The UK’s unemployment rate is set to rise to five per cent in the beginning of next year before falling back, a leading forecaster has said. In its latest update on forecasts for UK growth, EY ITEM Club has suggested that the UK jobs market is set to see a further decline in the next [...]
Business confidence at ‘rock bottom’ as tax rumours spook directors November 1, 2025 Business confidence remained at “rock bottom” in October as Budget rumours test executives’ nerves amid fears of rising costs and a collapse in growth, a top industry group’s survey has indicated. Rachel Reeves has publicly said that tax hikes are under consideration at this year’s Budget while rumours have suggested big businesses could be hit [...]
Will the Autumn Budget push up inflation? October 30, 2025 For a few weeks, there was one thing Rachel Reeves appeared to speak about more than anything else: inflation. Earlier this month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed inflation hit 3.8 per cent in the year to September, nearly double the Bank of England’s target rate. The IMF and the OECD said the UK [...]