Is scrapping the tax-free pension lump sum a good idea? August 21, 2025 The tax-free pension lump sum has its problems, but is limiting the allowance actually a good idea, asks Daniel Herring.
London tube staff to strike in September in ‘extremely concerning’ move August 21, 2025 London tube staff are set to strike over pay in early September in what industry chiefs have labelled a “damaging scenario” for sluggish growth across the capital. The rail union RMT said on Thursday that rolling strike action would begin on Friday 5 September while Docklands Light Railway staff will strike from 8 September over [...]
New property tax will mean more over-65s living in family homes they don’t need August 21, 2025 More than half of Brits living in homes too big for them. We need incentives for over-65s to downsize, not punitive property taxes.
Work and study visas fall in push to reduce immigration August 21, 2025 Work visas issued to migrants have fallen by 36 per cent compared to last year, fresh data has revealed, as tightened rules on skilled workers and care providers have lowered the numbers of people arriving in the UK. The Labour government is under considerable pressure to cut net migration from previous peaks of nearly one [...]
Tax-free pension lump sum could be slashed to fill Labour’s black hole August 21, 2025 Tax-free lump sum withdrawals from pension pots could be slashed as Rachel Reeves scrambles for fresh ways to plug a £50bn hole in the public finances. The Chancellor is reportedly eyeing a cut to the amount of money pensioners can withdraw from their savings pot without paying tax to as little as £40,000. That would [...]
RFU backing of Red Roses can aid better English pro structure August 21, 2025 So it begins. Red Roses vs USA at the Stadium of Light. Friday night, BBC 1. That’s a USA fielding the rugby player with by far the biggest social media following on the planet, Ilona Maher. You won’t find a hotter ticket this year than the Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham on 27 [...]
Government urged to expand auto-enrolment to prevent pension poverty August 21, 2025 The UK’s auto-enrolment contribution scheme should be reformed to prevent more workers slipping into retirement poverty, the Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) has said. In its latest paper, the SPP has called on the Pension Commission, which was revived in July, to consider changing auto-enrolment rates and look at factors causing weak levels of pension saving. While [...]
Inside Finsbury Circus Gardens, the City’s biggest green space August 20, 2025 Our Toast the City Awards are celebrating the City’s top spots and takes place this October. This week: the redesigned Finsbury Circus Gardens. If the Square Mile were to be designed today, it would feature a lot more green space. It wasn’t until the middle of the last century that architects realised the importance of nature in [...]
Rachel Reeves considers ‘mansion tax’ on homes above £1.5m August 20, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is looking at imposing capital gains tax on the sale of houses above £1.5m as she looks to fill a £40bn hole in the public finances. The change, which would likely happen at this year’s Autumn Budget, would see higher-rate taxpayers pay 24 per cent of the value of any gain they [...]
IWG boss labels double-digit share price dive ‘not rational’ August 19, 2025 Shares in International Workspace Group (IWG) dropped more than 15 per cent today after a disappointing half-year trading update from the office provider. It was the worst day for the world’s largest provider of serviced office space since the first day of lockdown in March 2020. But boss Mark Dixon said the share price drop [...]