Healey: I want to help bloody-minded founders October 22, 2026 John Healey has pledged to devote next week’s Budget to “bloody-minded entrepreneurs”, acknowledging small and fast-growing businesses have been “under pressure” from a barrage of fresh taxes and regulation. The Chancellor said he would clamp down on the “cost of business” as well as on the cost of living, promising to patch up relations with [...]
Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) Selects Capgemini as Technology Partner October 22, 2026 Capgemini will provide AI and technology services under a single partner framework, helping FSCS support financial stability by giving consumers confidence, continuity and compensation when financial services firms fail.
Ditching a damaging capital gains tax rise doesn’t make Healey a pro-growth Chancellor October 22, 2026 Although the government has ruled out raising Capital Gains Tax in the upcoming budget, Labour’s broader tax and spending policies remain economically damaging, uncompetitive, and fundamentally misguided, says Daniel Herring The government needs to find money for the upcoming Budget. Having ruled out the least damaging and broadest-based tax rises, Labour needs to resort to [...]
Budget 2026: Consumer confidence tumbles as Healey urged to slow ‘tsunami of costs’ October 22, 2026 John Healey has been urged to tackle the “tsunami of costs” facing firms as consumer confidence tumbled ahead of the crucial Budget next week. Brits’ confidence in the state of the economy worsened from -32 to -40 in October, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)’s index, marking the third consecutive month of deteriorating sentiment. [...]
Ex-cost of living adviser Richard Walker demands ‘aggressive’ tax reform October 21, 2026 Lord Richard Walker, the Iceland boss who advised the Sir Keir Starmer government on the cost of living, has called on Andy Burnham and John Healey to unleash “aggressive” tax reform to encourage firms to invest and hire more young people. In a paper for the Blairite think tank Progress, Walker made a series of [...]
Business leaders debate the future of the Capital at the Central London Alliance Summit October 21, 2026 On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Central London Alliance hosted its annual Business Summit at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster, just moments from the seat of Government. Bringing together 45 exceptional guest speakers and panellists, the Summit debated a wide range of pressing issues that are currently impacting London’s business community and are predicted to [...]
Reply Introduces Reply Immersive Experience: a Space Where Artificial Intelligence and Immersive Technologies Bring Multisensory Brand Experiences to Life October 21, 2026 The first format, AQUA by Christian Mandura, debuts on 21 October 2026 as part of Buonissima in Turin, with a six-act performance combining fine dining, artificial intelligence and storytelling.
Aim-listed tech company agrees huge takeover deal October 21, 2026 Ashtead Technology is set to become the latest company picked off the London Stock Exchange after agreeing to a £505m takeover by a New-York based private equity firm. Ember Infrastructure Management agreed to pay 615p per share in cash for the underwater technology firm. This represents a staggering 80.9 per cent premium on Ashtead’s closing [...]
Inflation leaps above expectations to 3.5 per cent October 21, 2026 Inflation jumped to 3.5 per cent in the 12 months to September as the UK economy looks set to suffer the damaging effects of energy price increases caused by the Iran war over the coming months. The consumer price index (CPI) reading rose above market expectations. This was also above last month’s figure of 3.1 [...]
Budget 2026: If Healey really thinks banks are a jewel in the crown why is he raising taxes? October 21, 2026 Banks already pay billions in tax. If John Healey really wants to Budget for growth, investment and predictability, he should keep taxes stable, says David Postings Chancellor John Healey recently described banking as the “jewel” in the “British economic crown”. I completely agree. I have worked in banking for decades. Born in Wolverhampton, I know [...]