Economists warn of tax hikes after borrowing blow February 21, 2025 Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that tax receipts fell short of expectations in January due to the sluggish performance of the UK economy.
New Look closes all stores in the Republic of Ireland February 21, 2025 High street fashion giant New Look will fully exit the Republic of Ireland, putting all of its workers in the country at risk of redundancy. The retailer’s Irish arm, which employs about 347 people, has entered into redundancy following years of losses at the high street chain. The privately-owned company said it has had to [...]
Ex-Lloyds executive wants to ‘fintech’ mortgages February 21, 2025 A former Lloyds executive wants to accelerate the mortgage process by bringing AI into the mix. Stuart Cheetham worked at Lloyds bank for over a decade, spanning senior roles across Asia. He was chief executive in Hong Kong and managing director in Japan. However, since departing the Big Four bank, Cheetham founded his own company [...]
Pressure on Rachel Reeves grows as tax receipts disappoint February 21, 2025 Tax receipts rose at a slower pace than expected in January, new figures show, in a sign that the poor performance of the economy could have damaging fiscal consequences. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the government recorded a monthly surplus of £15.4bn, meaning it received more in taxes than it [...]
Instead of allowing SMEs to thrive, Labour is punishing them February 21, 2025 From day one, this Labour government has prioritised the interests of unions and the public sector over the businesses that actually generate jobs and growth, says Danielle Dunfield-Prayero Labour’s true colours are now on full display. Despite years of warm words to business in the run-up to the General Election, their instincts remain unchanged: the [...]
Labour must remember investors when reforming leasehold February 21, 2025 Given that many properties are directly or indirectly owned by pension funds, getting leasehold reform wrong risks destabilising the property markets, transferring value to foreign investors and undermining the UK’s attractiveness, says Natalie Chambers The government’s rhetoric on harnessing institutional capital as a driver for economic growth is welcome. In the coming months, the government [...]
Nigel Farage ‘hands ownership of Reform UK to members’, says party February 20, 2025 Nigel Farage has “handed over ownership of Reform UK to its members”, the party has said. The Clacton MP previously said that he was “relinquishing” control of the company as he pledged to “change the structure” and give members ownership of the organisation. It comes as Farage responded to US President Donald Trump’s remarks on [...]
Amazon Prime Video offers French football for £2.49 February 20, 2025 Amazon Prime Video has expanded its sport portfolio in the UK by offering live French Ligue 1 football matches on a pay-per-view basis. Up to three games per weekend will be available on the streaming platform for the price of £2.49 each – to Prime subscribers and non-subscribers alike. It is designed to appeal to [...]
International trade in the era of Trump 2.0 – how will the ICC adapt? February 20, 2025 Philippe Varin, chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, is stewarding the kind of globalist institution which Trump instinctively distrusts. He speaks to Eliot Wilson about championing free trade in an era of protectionism The International Chamber of Commerce is the world’s biggest representative organisation for business and trade. To establish some sense of scale, [...]
Hays: Profit cut in half at recruiter February 20, 2025 Hays has reported another drop in profit as it struggles amid a long-running in the recruitment sector. Group net fees, a key performance indicator in the recruitment sector, dropped 13 per cent in the six months ending 31 December. Operating profit fell 56 per cent to £25.5m, while profit before tax fell 66 per cent [...]