Can Peter Kyle deliver a Budget lifeline for UK’s SMEs? September 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver her Autumn Budget on 26 November, nearly a month later than usual, and eyes are on what she will do for the SMEs. With borrowing costs hitting their highest levels since 1998, and servicing the national debt topping £100bn a year, the government has been urged to maintain fiscal [...]
Exclusive: FCA licence approvals slump September 15, 2025 As few as six e-money licence applications have been granted by the UK’s financial regulator over the past 9 months, Morning Wire can reveal, underscoring the scale of the regulatory obstacles faced by Britain’s fintech startups. Data obtained by Morning Wire via Freedom of Information request showed that not a single authorised electronic money institution (AEMI) licence [...]
Taxing business is not the way to win the investment race September 15, 2025 Attracting investment is all about sending the right signals, and that starts with tax policy, says Chris Hayward Party conference season brings warm white wine, beige food and late nights. These festivals of politics tend to be high in rhetoric and low in substance. Businesses across the Square Mile seek more of the latter and [...]
Aldi issues Budget warning as profit slashed September 15, 2025 Profit at discount supermarket giant Aldi was slashed by more than £100m during its latest financial year despite sales passing the £18bn mark. New figures released by the chain show its operating profit declined from £552.9m to £435.5m in 2024. Aldi said the fall was as a result of it continuing to “lower prices for [...]
High living costs threaten Gen Z and Millennials’ pensions September 15, 2025 Younger generations are struggling to afford adding money to their pension pot, forcing many to be at risk of retirement poverty, new research has found. According to a survey from fintech start-up Chest, two in five 18-34 year olds are failing to top up their pension pot as they face the challenge of spending more [...]
Primark owner says larger stores to come under pressure from rates changes September 15, 2025 The boss of Primark’s parent firm has warned the Government that proposed business rates changes are “mistaken” and heap pressure on big stores on UK high streets. George Weston, the billionaire boss of Associated British Foods (ABF), told the PA new agency that the Labour Government “should not increase taxes on businesses any more” in [...]
Reeves urged to give stamp duty holiday for fresh stock exchange listings September 14, 2025 Rachel Reeves has been urged to give a stamp duty holiday for companies when they list on London’s stock exchange as her Taskforce looks for ways to boost the beleaguered bourse. Representatives of the chancellor’s listings taskforce, which she set up after her Mansion House speech in July, have floated an up-to-five-year break on stamp [...]
US financial firms pledge investment into the UK before Trump visit September 13, 2025 US financial firms have announced investments in the UK worth £1.25 billion before Donald Trump’s state visit next week. Citi Group has confirmed it will invest £1.1 billion across its UK operations, while S&P Global will put £4 million into their Manchester offices. PayPal has confirmed a £150 million investment in product innovations and growth [...]
Astrazeneca pauses £200m Cambridge investment September 13, 2025 British drug giant Astrazeneca has paused a planned £200 million expansion of its research site in Cambridge in a fresh blow to the UK pharmaceutical industry. It comes after the pharmaceutical firm abandoned plans to invest £450 million in a vaccine plant in Merseyside earlier this year in a blow to the Government as it [...]
No 10 aware of Mandelson emails before Starmer defended him September 13, 2025 Officials at No 10 and the Foreign Office were aware of the damning emails between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein before Starmer defended him at Prime Minister’s Questions. The Foreign Office was allegedly sent details of the emails between the pair on Tuesday and passed them on to Downing Street, two days before Starmer withdrew [...]