Is gene testing the best way forward for World Athletics? September 6, 2025 This week World Athletics has reintroduced gene testing for all athletes competing in female categories at world ranking events. The move is framed as a means of ensuring fairness in competition and protecting women competing in the female category. But is this truly in the best interests of the athletes it affects? Gender eligibility in [...]
HMRC names barrister in tax avoidance list for first time September 4, 2025 In an unprecedented move, HMRC has added a practising barrister, identified as the ‘designer’ of a tax avoidance scheme, to its list of tax avoidance promoters. Tax barrister Setu Kamal, with 20 years of experience, stands accused of designing four tax avoidance schemes and producing the contract templates crucial to their operation. Those schemes were [...]
UK businesses slash jobs after tax raid September 4, 2025 UK employers slashed jobs at the fastest pace in four years as companies suffer the costs of tax decisions from Rachel Reeve’s Autumn Budget last year. Companies cut employment by an annual rate of 0.5 per cent in the three months to August. This is the worst figure since 2021, according to a Bank of [...]
Construction firms are ‘lagging behind’ as confidence plummets September 4, 2025 Construction firms are struggling to kick back into growth, fresh data has suggested, as more bosses are becoming worried about a bleaker future ahead. The Labour government is pinning hopes on a revival of the construction sector to build 1.5m homes by 2030. However, a new survey has raised doubts about whether Labour can achieve [...]
Nick Clegg: Labour’s choices have left UK in ‘perilous’ place September 4, 2025 Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has blasted the Labour government for its poor preparations ahead of last year’s elections, which led to “ridiculous” decisions being made at least year’s £40bn tax grab in the Autumn Budget. Speaking to LBC, Clegg said Labour had made promises it could not deliver as it struggled to balance [...]
Lloyd’s of London BluePrint Two delayed, again September 4, 2025 The world’s leading insurance and reinsurance market, Lloyd’s of London, has delayed the rollout of its strategy to digitalise the market for the fourth time. Blueprint Two was launched six years ago, labelled an “ambitious strategy” by the market. The programme was pitched as delivering a “profound” change in the market through digitalisation. Lloyd’s, together [...]
Higher interest rates boost Lloyd’s of London September 4, 2025 Lloyd’s of London, the world’s leading insurance and reinsurance market, has reported a profit before tax of £4.2bn for the first half of 2025. Gross written premiums climbed to £32.5bn, up from £30.6bn reported for the same period last year. Its underwriting result fell to £1.5bn, down from £3.1bn the previous year, as the market’s [...]
Geopolitical instability hits the bottom line as businesses suffer investment losses September 3, 2025 Businesses have suffered losses in international projects or investments due to geopolitical and economic risks, with interest in political risk insurance (PRI) soaring as a result. According to a new report by insurer Howden, over half of the companies surveyed, comprising around 500 senior risk and treasury function decision-makers, reported suffering a political loss to [...]
A 0.5 per cent pension shift could secure Britain’s tech supremacy September 3, 2025 To solve the UK’s struggle to scale its world-class startups, we must unlock the nation’s vast pension funds for venture capital investment to fuel domestic growth and ensure technological sovereignty, says Dame Anne Glover This week, as leaders gather at Mansion House to celebrate British innovation, we must confront a hard truth: the UK is [...]
How likely are property tax reforms in the Autumn budget? September 3, 2025 Rumours have been swirling in Westminster about a variety of property tax changes Rachel Reeves might introduce in this Autumn’s budget – or further down the line – in an attempt to plug a £40bn gap in the nation’s finances while overhauling a complex system of levies and charges. The Treasury is reportedly looking into [...]