Government ‘mis-sold student loans’ to teenagers, MPs say July 7, 2026 A group of MPs have accused the government of knowingly mis-selling student loans for years to unsuspecting teenagers, after using adverts comparing repayments to mobile phone contracts and failing to properly inform them of certain conditions. The Department for Education (DfE) used a bundle of promotional materials comparing monthly student loans repayments to low-cost monthly items, [...]
Burnham told to launch £100bn tax reform package July 6, 2026 Andy Burnham has been urged to introduce sweeping tax reforms that could generate over £100bn in extra government revenue by a group of influential economists, which includes his own heavyweight adviser Jim O’Neill. A letter signed by O’Neill, who was formerly a Treasury minister and Goldman Sachs executive, urged the next Prime Minister to introduce [...]
Financial services activity ‘drops rapidly’ as investors alarmed by Burnham July 6, 2026 Business activity across the financial services sector – one of the chief drivers of economic growth across the UK – has dropped sharply as confidence slumps, according to a new survey. Financial services firms, including banks and insurers, said business volumes had nosedived in the second quarter of the year. While the net reading for [...]
Schroders sells financial planning arm as it accelerates high net-worth shift July 6, 2026 Schroders has agreed to sell its advice business Benchmark Capital to Swedish wealth firm Soderberg & Partners as it accelerates a shift toward wealth management and high net-worth clients. Under the terms of the deal, Schroders will become a long-term asset manager to Soderberg & Partners and exit direct ownership of the financial planning business. [...]
We’re being taxed out of existence, companies warn July 6, 2026 Investment by British businesses has fallen to its lowest level since the pandemic as companies warn they are being “taxed out of existence”, one of Britain’s biggest business groups has found. The proportion of firms planning to increase investment fell to just 17 per cent in the second quarter, down from 21 per cent in [...]
Surely Gary Stevenson is smart enough to know a wealth tax won’t work? July 6, 2026 Britain's self-styled greatest inequality economist, surely Gary Stevenson knows his two per cent levy won't work, writes Damian Pudner.
Construction sector cuts jobs again as house building slumps July 6, 2026 The construction industry shed jobs for the 18th consecutive month in June following “sharp declines” in house building and a slowdown in new home sales. The latest S&P Global Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) for the construction sector showed more cutbacks to employment with another period of “sustained job shedding”. Subcontractors were also hit by the [...]
As it happened: Stocks slide despite tech and data boost; Oil falls after OPEC+ ups output July 6, 2026 Welcome back to the Morning Wire liveblog. Markets are dealing with a double dose of pressures to start of the new week as investors brace for a crucial earnings season in the artificial sector, whilst an increase of supply on the oil market weighs on prices. Over in Asia, stock markets slipped following a week [...]
‘Number 10 North’ is no more than a gimmick July 6, 2026 Number 10 North has been designed to attract headlines without having been put under any real scrutiny, writes Eliot Wilson.
UK investors turn to bonds as equities valuations continue to stretch July 6, 2026 UK investors piled into bonds in June, as soaring valuations in equity markets has left many investors looking to avoid heightened risk and stretched value. Bond funds attracted over £1bn of net inflows last month, making it third-strongest on record for fixed income funds, according to the latest data from Calastone. The streak came as [...]