The Leeds Reforms fixed the plumbing – now we’re turning up the tap for retail investors Opinion Building on the structural improvements of the Leeds Reforms, the UK now aims to foster a stronger national investment culture through the ‘Invest for the Future’ campaign, says Karen Northey One year on from the Leeds Reforms, the UK has made rapid progress on the mechanics of retail investment. The harder task now is cultural: [...]
Savvy the Squirrel and ‘simpler regulation’: New City minister reaffirms Labour’s investment push Investing The government’s new City minister has doubled down on the government’s commitment to overhaul the UK’s investment culture and encourage more Brits to enter the stock market, including its new squirrel-themed nationwide campaign. Economic Secretary to the Treasury Rachel Blake, who took over from Lucy Rigby three weeks ago, noted that “too many people have [...]
Is ‘disinformation’ really one of the biggest challenges facing London? London All power to the Lady Mayor and her newly assembled team of City leaders who want to shout from the rooftops about the strengths and assets of our great capital city. Dame Susan Langley will tonight launch a new campaign, Team UK, backed by some of the Square Mile’s biggest business and industry groups, with [...]
City chiefs issue rallying cry to counter ‘disinformation’ about London’s decline June 3, 2026 A group of influential City chiefs have thrown their weight behind an industry-wide campaign to tackle “disinformation about London” and promote the capital as an innovative hub for global investment. All four of the financial sector’s largest industry bodies have signed up to Team UK, a new initiative spearheaded by the Lady Mayor of London, [...]
‘Mascots don’t move markets’: City grandee pours cold water on retail investment drive April 28, 2026 The government’s industry-backed investing campaign will fail to usher in a new wave of retail investment unless ministers also promise to scrap the UK’s “hard to defend” tax regime on shares, the boss of a top investment bank has warned. Writing in Morning Wire, Peel Hunt chief executive Steven Fine said that the record haul [...]
Government launches Britain’s largest ever retail investing campaign April 23, 2026 The government has unveiled its industry-backed push to encourage households to plough their savings into the stock market, in what is set to be the largest retail investing campaign of its kind in Britain’s history. Starring a red squirrel called ‘Savvy’, the Invest for the Future campaign will seek to “drive a step change in [...]
Standard Life snaps up Aegon UK for £2bn to create savings giant April 15, 2026 Standard Life has snapped up the UK’s largest investment platform Aegon UK in a £2bn deal. The FTSE 100 giant – previously known as Phoenix Group – said the deal would create the UK’s top retirement savings and income business with near 16m customers and £480bn in assets under administration. Standard Life expects an annual [...]
‘Ridiculous’: Torsten Bell under fire over pension schemes bill April 2, 2026 London’s pension industry is in uproar over government proposals to keep what is known as ‘backstop power’ over the precise level of investment from funds in specific UK assets. Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, has become the focus of anger at Whitehall’s attempts to exert a degree of control over where some of the biggest [...]
Business chiefs shift investment plans amid geopolitical tensions February 9, 2026 Top UK company bosses are being forced to shift or ditch their investment strategies amid rising geopolitical and trade tensions. The latest EY-Parthenon chief executive outlook survey – which surveyed 100 UK bosses – showed nearly 80 per cent had switched up investment plans due to developments in international trade policy and wider political pressures. [...]
Autumn Budget: Cash ISA tax free allowance slashed to £12,000 November 26, 2025 In a major policy shakeup, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a slash to the cash ISA ceiling but over 65s will retain the full allowance. After weeks of speculation, Reeves confirmed the ceiling will be cut from £20,000 to £12,000 as of April 2027, as part of her bid to stop people from hoarding cash [...]