UK disposable income rises as benefits payouts soar ahead of wages September 30, 2026 The average UK household’s disposable income increased in the second quarter of the year driven by a rise in benefit payouts. Real household disposable income per head – which measures the average spending and saving capacity of Brits – increased by one per cent in the second quarter to £6,577, new figures from the Office [...]
Economists warn of tax hikes after Burnham admits social care funding ‘shortfall’ September 30, 2026 Andy Burnham has admitted there may be a “shortfall” in his ambitious plans to fund a new national care service, as economists warn that taxes will have to rise. Burnham announced plans to adjust the triple lock from 2030, effectively creating a double lock, using the savings to fund the new service. The new mechanism [...]
Bank of England’s Taylor: No need for interest rate hike September 30, 2026 Bank of England official Alan Taylor has downplayed the need to raise interest rates in the face of the looming energy crisis, saying he saw no evidence that price rises from an initial jump in fuel costs were filtering into the wider economy. External Monetary Policy Committee member said the case for rate hikes was [...]
Reform UK and Tories attack Burnham’s triple lock pension move September 29, 2026 Reform UK and Tory leaders have hit out at Andy Burnham’s plans to drop the triple lock on pensions in a future Labour manifesto, setting up a clash on a policy which previously had the backing of all major political parties. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister said he would lead his party on a pledge [...]
Manchester City bombshell verdict finds club hid over £900m in secret funding September 29, 2026 The Premier League has published damning details of the long-awaited verdict in the Manchester City case, which found the club cooked the books to the tune of nearly £1bn for almost a decade. An Independent Commission said that City used “sham” schemes to artificially inflate revenue and reduce costs by more than £900m during the [...]
End of triple lock: What is the double lock and will it work? September 29, 2026 Andy Burnham has pledged to drop the triple lock on state pensions for a so-called ‘double lock’ in Labour’s next manifesto in order to pay for his new National Care Service. In an address to party members, Burnham confirmed the existing triple lock mechanism will remain in place for the remainder of this parliament before [...]
Burnham pledges to reform triple lock to fund new National Care Service September 29, 2026 Andy Burnham has said Labour will drop the triple lock on state pensions in its manifesto for the next election in order to fund a sweeping new National Care Service. In his address to party members, Burnham said the party would link a rise in the state pension to inflation or 2.5 per cent every [...]
Markets should accept cheap money isn’t coming back September 29, 2026 We are no longer living in the post-financial crisis world, and the market needs to adjust, writes Helen Thomas.
Crew Clothing warns on consumer confidence as profit stalls September 29, 2026 Crew Clothing has warned that it could suffer from a significant slowdown in consumer confidence, as the retailer saw profit stall last year. The high street clothes seller said it is bracing for a potential drop-off in spending, as inflation fears caused by the Iran war tighten shoppers’ budgets. In a statement the firm said: [...]
Why is Burnham set to turn against the triple lock? September 29, 2026 The controversial pension triple lock is reportedly set to face the axe as Andy Burnham looks to rewire the UK’s pension landscape to fund his plans. In his maiden conference speech as prime minister on Tuesday, Burnham is expected to signal the death of the triple lock after 16 years, bringing an end to pensioner’s [...]