Andy Burnham will be ‘in hock’ to the bond markets whether he likes it or not June 24, 2026 With the highest gilt yields in the G7, more borrowing is no longer an option for the next Prime Minister. That leaves the traditional options: raise taxes, cut spending or embark on more ambitious supply-side reforms in areas such as planning, says Daniel Mahoney Governments needing money usually have three options: tax more, spend less, [...]
Warning lights: UK services suffer worst shock since January 2023 June 23, 2026 Business activity across the UK economy is at a 14-month low, research has suggested, as growth has taken a toll from Labour’s political woes and the impact of the continued trade disruption. The initial estimate for S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) dropped to a score of 49.4 in June, falling further below the neutral [...]
‘Not all sunlit uplands’: Pub bosses weigh in on whether Brexit leaves a bitter taste June 23, 2026 A decade on from the referendum, has Brexit left a bitter taste? The bosses of the UK’s biggest pub firms have their say Notoriously outspoken, the bosses of the UK’s leading pub brands are usually shouting about the same thing: the tax and regulatory burden threatening watering holes across the country. But, on the anniversary [...]
CRH to Acquire Arcosa; Leading U.S. Provider of Aggregates and Critical Infrastructure Products for $8.5B June 22, 2026 Strengthens CRH as the #1 infrastructure player in North America and reinforces CRH as the leader in U.S. aggregates Acquisition is highly complementary, advancing CRH’s strategy to build an aggregates-led, connected portfolio aligned with growing infrastructure megatrends Transaction expected to be accretive(1) to earnings, margin and cash flow in the first 12 months post-completion, demonstrating CRH’s ongoing commitment to accelerating growth through value-creating capital allocation CRH to host investor call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time
Babcock predicts global government defence spending spree after hit to profit June 22, 2026 Babcock said it had suffered a £140m financial hit due to delays in a contract with the Royal Navy but reiterated its financial targets for the next year, predicting high spending as global governments plough cash into defence. Profit before tax slumped to £267.2m from £339.4m in the prior year after problems with its Type [...]
Who could be Andy Burnham’s Chancellor? June 22, 2026 As speculation over the Labour leadership grips Westminster, Maurício Alencar looks at the possible candidates for the next Chancellor – an appointment that will face heavy scrutiny by the markets. Andy Burnham’s journey toward Downing Street so far has featured scores of polls outlining his popularity among Labour members and the public, Labour MPs travelling [...]
Would a £10bn VAT cut really save hospitality? June 20, 2026 Calls for the government to slash VAT on hospitality firms have been backed by pub and restaurant bosses, and Prime Minister hopeful Andy Burnham. What would this tax break really mean for the economy? The UK’s pubs, hotels and restaurants say they are at breaking point. Higher business rates, hikes to national insurance and minimum [...]
Kaleb Cooper: Brits don’t care about the price of milk June 19, 2026 Brits don’t care about the price of milk, Kaleb Cooper has said, as he urged shoppers to buy more locally-made produce. The Clarkson’s Farm star told City AM that farmers would be “very, very grateful” for price rises if passed on to producers amid a battle to stay profitable in the face of higher costs. [...]
Burnham must walk a tightrope on his ascent to Downing Street June 19, 2026 After Andy Burnham cleared the path for a run at the Labour leadership with an emphatic win in the Makerfield by-election. Maurício Alencar sketches out what an Andy Burnham government could look like – and the balancing act he faces on the way there Despite romping home to victory in the Makerfield by-election on Friday, [...]
Retail sales jump as third-warmest May on record sends Brits to the high street June 19, 2026 UK retail sales climbed in May, as consumers flocked back to the high street amid the heatwave and showed sustained demand for new electronic products. Retail sales volumes are estimated to have increased by 1.2 per cent in May, following a 1 per cent fall in April as fears over the Iran war caused Brits [...]