Starmer refuses to rule out tax rises – and criticises forecasters August 6, 2025 The Prime Minister has refused to comment on whether he will break Labour’s manifesto pledges on taxes at this year’s Autumn Budget as he slapped down independent forecasters’ claims the government faced a £50bn black hole. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) claimed Rachel Reeves would miss her borrowing target by £41.2bn [...]
London hit with a slowdown in mid-market deal activity August 6, 2025 Mid-market private equity investment in London suffered a fall in the first half of this year, as economic uncertainty and wider geopolitical issues affected investment activity. According to fresh analysis from professional services giant KPMG, the volume of mid-market private equity investment fell 14 per cent in the capital, with just 168 deals completed. KPMG’s [...]
Boardroom Uncovered: Can Bupa and NHS save the UK healthcare sector? August 6, 2025 The CEO of Bupa has rejected calls for the NHS to move to an insurance model and said that while it needs "fine-tuning", its "soul will remain" intact.
Bupa boss: ‘The NHS needs fine-tuning but its soul will remain’ August 6, 2025 The UK boss of Bupa has rejected calls for the NHS to move to an insurance model, and while it needs "fine-tuning," its "soul will remain".
Simmons: Bar chain owed millions to OakNorth, tax collectors before entering administration August 6, 2025 Simmons owed millions of pounds in debts to OakNorth bank and tax collectors before it was put into administration, fresh corporate documents have revealed. The London-based cocktail bar chain has made at least 30 staff redundant alongside closing several sites as founder Nick Campbell battled to secure rescue funding to buy the company in a [...]
TP ICAP shares fall despite revenue growth August 6, 2025 Interdealer broker TP ICAP Group reported record revenue growth in the first half of the year, supported by strong broker productivity, cost control, and strategic diversification. The firm recorded adjusted revenue of £1.22bn, up seven per cent, driven by momentum in its global broking and Liquidnet divisions. The global broking arm was the business’s best [...]
Hiscox shares jump after firm lifts buyback despite wildfire losses August 6, 2025 Shares in Lloyd’s of London insurer Hiscox jumped more than 10 per cent in early deals this morning after the company hiked its share buyback. Overall, the group posted a slight fall in interim profit as wildfire claims hit its reinsurance division, but the group increased capital returns on the back of substantial investment income. [...]
Legal & General: Profit jumps as international growth pays off August 6, 2025 Asset management and insurance giant Legal & General has reported steady growth across all business arms as it continues its international growth plans. The company recorded a six per cent increase in core operating profit for the first half of 2025 after recording steady growth across all three of its business arms. Core operating profit [...]
Birmingham Phoenix tee up Castore as Hundred teams ditch New Balance August 6, 2025 Birmingham Phoenix have agreed a kit deal with Castore for next season, with The Hundred’s long-term apparel supplier, New Balance, increasingly being phased out by the franchises that are under new ownership. City AM revealed last week that London Spirit are also dropping New Balance after the current campaign, with their new co-owners, Cricket Investor [...]
The Bank of England’s trouble-free decision to cut interest rates August 6, 2025 The Bank of England has long suffered from the accusation of groupthink. Reforms have been mooted – and some have been implemented – but it has struggled to shake off the charge. Economists at the Cato Institute and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) have, for example, pointed the blame at Threadneedle [...]