Starmer calls for ‘moment to unite’ as Nato agrees defence pledge June 25, 2025 Keir Starmer said the latest Nato summit represented a “moment to unite” as 32 member countries committed to ramp up spending on defence to 3.5 per cent by 2035, with a further 1.5 per cent allocated towards security and infrastructure. The Prime Minister said investment will go towards cyber security and protecting key infrastructure while [...]
Labour doubles down on welfare vote despite massive revolt June 25, 2025 The Labour government has doubled down on holding a vote on its controversial welfare bill – worth £4.8bn in savings – as soon as next week, despite opposition from more than 130 of its own backbenchers. Angela Rayner told the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon the government would press ahead with reforms to personal [...]
What does Labour’s industrial strategy really mean for UK tech? June 25, 2025 After years of drift, Whitehall has finally made a plan. Labour’s long-trailed Industrial Strategy landed on Monday – a 10 year blueprint that promises to stitch a broken economic model back together with the help of strategic intervention. For the tech sector, it’s an ambitious document. But many in the industry have said it’s also [...]
Trump to make state visit UK in September despite King’s concerns June 25, 2025 US President Donald Trump is set to make a full state visit to the UK in September in a further sign of Prime Minister Starmer’s efforts to bring the two countries closer together. But King Charles preferred an initial informal visit that would represent a less eventful trip amid threats made to Canada’s sovereignty, according [...]
Contradiction at the heart of National Security Strategy June 25, 2025 The situation in the Middle East reminds us that these are volatile times and as the war in Ukraine grinds on, an unpredictable US President heads to the Hague for a crucial Nato summit where the security of Europe is on the table. At home, the government has published its National Security Strategy which concludes [...]
Industrial strategy shows Labour has a long-term plan for growth June 25, 2025 One year into office, the Labour government faces a challenging economic landscape, but its new industrial strategy signals a serious, long-term commitment to addressing the UK’s productivity issues and unlocking economic growth through stronger partnerships with the private sector, says Claire Ainsley Next week will be one year of the Labour government, and it just [...]
Higher tax ‘inevitable’ as PM makes defence spending pledge June 24, 2025 Keir Starmer’s fresh commitment to ramp up defence spending to five per cent as a share of GDP by 2035 will almost certainly have to be funded by more tax hikes, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)’ Paul Johnson has warned. The government’s pledge to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence and a [...]
UK cement sector ‘at risk of cracking’ despite industrial strategy June 23, 2025 Production in the UK cement sector is rapidly declining, according to industry leaders, despite government efforts to slash high electricity prices as part of its industrial strategy published on Monday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer appealed to thousands of manufacturers across the country with plans to reduce energy bills by 25 per cent from 2027 after [...]
Industrial Strategy: Labour to turn City into ‘most innovative financial centre’ June 23, 2025 Labour has vowed to turn the Square Mile into “the world’s most innovative full-service financial centre” as the government laid out the key pillars of its much-anticipated industrial strategy. The policy document said the government would achieve the milestone by 2035, but was unclear about what the criteria were for hitting it or how it [...]
Industry electricity costs for 7,000 businesses to be slashed by up to a quarter June 23, 2025 Electricity prices for 7,000 businesses in the UK are to be slashed by up to 25 per cent from 2027 as part of the government’s much-awaited Industrial Strategy. British manufacturers are facing the highest industrial electricity prices in the G7, with costs currently four times higher than those of the US and significantly higher than [...]