City minister insists capital markets reform ‘not a job done’ Markets A top Treasury minister has opened the door to further capital markets reforms after saying the government’s job was not done in improving listing incentives. Lucy Rigby, who serves as the economic secretary to the Treasury, otherwise known as City minister, told City AM the government was “continually looking for ways that we can ensure [...]
City chiefs warn Healey bank tax hike could drive businesses out of UK Banking Top finance industry chiefs have warned the Chancellor that hiking taxes on the banking sector in the forthcoming Budget could drive businesses and capital out of the UK. Bosses of the City’s biggest industry bodies – including UK Finance, TheCityUK and the CBI – have written to John Healey calling for him to avoid raising [...]
Thousands of Lifetime ISA savers slammed with multiple withdrawal penalties Personal Finance Thousands of Brits who saved into a Lifetime ISA were hit with multiple withdrawal penalties in a single tax year, as calls for the government to ensure the replacement product is fit for purpose grows. Roughly 45,000 savers were penalised for unauthorised withdrawals from Lifetime ISAs (LISA) in the 2024/25 tax year, according to an [...]
‘Serious concern’: City watchdog accused of withholding information in motor finance row October 7, 2026 The City watchdog is coming under pressure to release its communications with the Treasury and modelling data for its controversial motor finance redress scheme, City AM can reveal. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is facing legal challenges from the finance arms of Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz as well as French-owned CA Auto Finance over its [...]
Stages of tax grief: Is it time for bankers to bargain? October 7, 2026 Banks are in the firing line at the Budget and in a meeting with bosses on Tuesday chancellor John Healey played coy on any increased rates. In this week’s column Samuel Norman looks at what trade-off could be made. Also on the cards, fresh data shows fintechs are lurching ahead of the incumbents on customer [...]
Reeves beats Kwarteng to ‘worst chancellor’ in new ranking October 6, 2026 Just months after her exit from Number 11, Rachel Reeves has been given the dubious honour of being voted “worst chancellor”, in a new survey. According to an AJ Bell survey, Reeves was the least popular of the last five chancellors, and even ranked below Kwasi Kwarteng, who held the role for just over a [...]
Raising bank taxes will reduce jobs, former Chancellor Hunt warns Healey October 5, 2026 Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has issued John Healey a major warning over any increase to the level of taxes paid by UK banks ahead of the forthcoming Budget. The top Tory MP, who has sat on the back benches since Labour came to power in 2024, said Healey must ignore the “siren voices” calling for [...]
Revolut and Monzo urge Healey to raise bank tax threshold September 28, 2026 Revolut, Monzo and Shawbrook are among a raft of challenger banks calling for John Healey to raise the threshold at which UK lenders are hit with an additional tax grab. The group – which also includes Investec, Aldemore and OSB – have written to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget in a bid to remove [...]
Founders should not be ‘put off’ by inheritance tax, says Treasury minister September 24, 2026 A senior Treasury minister, while praising the state of the UK economy, has said entrepreneurs should not be “put off” by inheritance tax. Emma Reynolds, the chief secretary to the Treasury, on Thursday, at a visit to Numatic International, the makers of the Henry vacuum cleaner, said entrepreneurs should not be “put off” by the [...]
Healey plan to slash headroom would ‘not be received well’ by nervous bond market September 24, 2026 John Healey’s reported plans to slash the breathing space the government has before it breaks its spending rules would spark a negative bond market reaction and lead investors to question the country’s commitment to fiscal credibility. Bond traders told City AM that any attempt to significantly reduce its so-called fiscal headroom would leave the country [...]