Payments regulator reportedly could be scrapped as No10 slashes red tape February 23, 2025 The UK’s payments regulator could be scrapped and folded into another regulator as part of efforts by No10 to slash red tape, according to Sky News. Ministers are mulling whether to abolish the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and amalgamate it into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the broadcaster has reported. A decision could come within [...]
Economists warn of tax hikes after borrowing blow February 21, 2025 Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that tax receipts fell short of expectations in January due to the sluggish performance of the UK economy.
Are Londoners losing their jobs thanks to Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes? February 21, 2025 Morning Wire’s opinion and features editor, Alys Denby, discusses the ongoing negative impact of Rachel Reeves’ jobs tax and whether rumours of the death of DEI have been exaggerated – plus more.
Budget costing jobs and pushing up inflation, survey suggests February 21, 2025 Excluding the pandemic, employment fell at the fastest pace since the global financial crisis, the survey suggested.
Pressure on Rachel Reeves grows as tax receipts disappoint February 21, 2025 Tax receipts rose at a slower pace than expected in January, new figures show, in a sign that the poor performance of the economy could have damaging fiscal consequences. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the government recorded a monthly surplus of £15.4bn, meaning it received more in taxes than it [...]
Rachel Reeves urges financial services to back emerging markets February 20, 2025 Rachel Reeves has met with top financial services firms to urge them to work with development institutions and within “emerging markets”. The Chancellor met with firms including Aviva, HSBC and Schroders in Canary Wharf today, as she called on industry leaders to seize on growth opportunities and shore up London as a leader in development [...]
NATO members will ‘fight together’ if needed, defence secretary says February 20, 2025 NATO member states will “fight together” if needed, the UK’s defence secretary has pledged during a visit to Norway. John Healey told a press conference with his Norwegian counterpart Tore Sandvik that Russian leader Vladimir Putin “wants to divide NATO” and “wants to divide Europe” as he warned that a ceasefire in Ukraine “must not [...]
Public service reform is pro-business, pensions minister argues February 20, 2025 Reforming Britain’s public services is a pro-growth and pro-business policy, the pensions minister has argued. Torsten Bell, who was appointed in the mini-reshuffle following City minister Tulip Siddiq’s departure from government, has said it’s not possible to have a “failing state and a growing economy”, in an interview with the Guardian. The former Resolution Foundation [...]
Lloyds shares jump despite profit slump February 20, 2025 Lloyds Banking Group’s shares jumped three per cent following market open, despite recording a profit hit after the firm set aside additional funds for potential motor finance payouts. The FTSE 100 lender’s pre-tax profit was down 20 per cent at £6bn, compared to £7.5bn in 2023. Analysts estimated the bank’s profit before tax at £6.5bn, [...]
Rachel Reeves must act now to save pubs, City broker warns February 20, 2025 Peel Hunt has become the latest broker to issue a warning that British pub culture is at risk due to structural pressures and tax hikes. Hospitality was the biggest driver of economic growth in both November and December, according to the latest government figures. But tax rises in the October budget “halted and reversed a [...]