Oasis revival is a reminder that – on fiscal policy – you don’t just roll with it August 6, 2025 The 1990s were a turbulent time for Britain’s economy and Oasis’ anthems are a reminder of that time – and a warning about an uncertain future, says Tim Focas Oasis are back. Thirty years after their Britpop heyday, the Gallagher brothers are selling out stadiums once again. But their return isn’t just about nostalgia. Their [...]
Has Reeves realised she’s reached the limits of taxation? August 6, 2025 Much of the economic damage has already been done, but in ruling out wealth taxes and further pay deals with doctors, at least the Chancellor is allowing a shimmer of light to peep through, says Paul Ormerod England’s cricketers narrowly failed to score the 374 runs needed to beat India in the final Test match [...]
Rachel Reeves needs £50bn tax raid to stick to fiscal rules, economists warn August 6, 2025 The Treasury will need to raise more than £50bn in fresh taxes to stay within its fiscal rules, one of the UK’s most prestigious economic groups has warned, laying bare the scale of the pain that could be wrought on businesses by Rachel Reeves in the autumn. The government is set to miss its “stability [...]
Labour urged to come clean on exit tax August 5, 2025 Labour ministers have been urged to clarify whether the government will introduce an exit tax as Tax Policy Associates chief Dan Neidle warned rumours could be “damaging” for the UK economy. Chancellor Rachel Reeves looks poised to raise more than £20bn in taxes later this year amid a shortfall in the fiscal headroom left by [...]
Millions of savers to face ‘hidden tax burden’ August 5, 2025 Millions of Brits will face a ‘hidden tax burden’ this year, fresh HMRC data has revealed, as thousands more are set to pay tax on the interest from their savings. Over 3.35m people are projected to be taxed on savings interest in 2025 – where the interest earned on savings exceeds the tax-free allowance and [...]
UK economy sees fastest services orders slowdown since Liz Truss August 5, 2025 Hopes of a quick recovery to the UK economy are fading as orders in the services sector fell at the fastest rate since Liz Truss’ mini-budget in late 2022, fresh data has suggested. S&P Global’s latest composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed a fall from a score of 52 in June to 51.5, which remains [...]
FCA fines Neil Woodford and Woodford IM £46m after fund failures August 5, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a £46m fine against once-renowned investment manager Neil Woodford and his former firm, Woodford Investment Management (WIM). The City watchdog handed Woodford a fine of £5.88m and banned him from holding senior manager roles and managing funds for retail investors. The authority also fined Woodford Investment Management £40m. [...]
Cut interest rates to four per cent, Morning Wire Shadow MPC says August 5, 2025 Top economists have voted 8-1 for interest rates to be slashed by 25 basis points in Morning Wire’s new Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Amid high inflation and falling job numbers, the Bank of England is set to face a difficult finely balanced decision on Thursday on whether to cut interest rates from the current [...]
FCA boss rejects criticism of motor finance redress August 5, 2025 The head of the UK’s financial watchdog has pushed back at industry claims that the wide scope of the motor finance redress scheme is “impractical”. Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority said: “We know it is difficult. But you can’t say the law has been broken and it is too difficult to [...]
Brits are gloomy – and not just about the weather August 5, 2025 Writers often agonise over how a column performs. I can see how many people read the online version of the Editor’s Letter and while our analytics don’t yet tell me what people make of my opinions they often spark a lively debate on LinkedIn. That can be satisfying, but that’s a self-selecting crowd of people [...]