Barclays boss insists Budget has been a ‘success’ despite gloomy forecasts December 3, 2024 The chief executive of Barclays has said Rachel Reeves’s tax-raising Budget has been a “success” so far, arguing it will likely boost economic growth in the longer term despite a raft of gloomy forecasts. Speaking at the Financial Times’ Global Banking Summit on Tuesday, CS “Venkat” Venkatakrishnan said markets for government debt suggested the Autumn [...]
Sea of tax changes? Why getting your ducks in a row on pensions is vital December 2, 2024 Inheritance tax changes may feel a long way away, but sooner is better when it comes to structuring your assets to pass on as much wealth as possible to your loved ones, says Duncan Bailey The Budget has given businesses and individuals much to consider with announcements made around spending, national insurance contributions for employers [...]
The service sector is not to blame for Britain’s industrial decline November 28, 2024 With the government’s new industrial strategy set to be published next spring, there’s a real risk that nostalgia for our manufacturing past gets in the way of the sectors that really drive growth, says Sam Bidwell Political conversations about the British economy are often dominated by one depressing fact – nobody seems ready to celebrate [...]
Forget Reeves’ CV – there’s a bigger transparency problem in monetary policy November 28, 2024 The real discussion shouldn’t be about whether Reeves deserves to call herself an “economist”. It should focus on the unchecked power of current central bank leaders, the far-reaching consequences of their decisions, and how we hold them to account, says Tim Focas The recent controversy over Rachel Reeves’ tenure as an economist at the Bank [...]
Just Eat delisting ‘blow to the City’ and setback for Reeves November 27, 2024 Just Eat Takeaway abandoning the London Stock Exchange “highlights a troubling trend” for UK markets as the government struggles to keep companies listed in Britain. The takeaway delivery company cited low liquidity, burdensome regulatory requirements, and high costs as key reasons for its move, which analysts said underscored the uncompetitiveness of London’s equity markets. “If [...]
Labour won’t fool businesses twice November 27, 2024 It’s becoming increasingly clear that trying to explain the value of private enterprise to Marxists is an exercise in what Churchill described as feeding a crocodile, hoping it will eat you last, writes James Price As the great wordsmith George W Bush once said: “Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me [...]
Budget pension consolidation raises ‘serious concerns’ for UK small firms November 26, 2024 Fund managers that invest in UK small companies have “serious concerns” that plans to consolidate pension schemes might lead to even more money flowing out of British businesses. The plan, announced at Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ inaugural Mansion House speech earlier this month, would combine 86 different local government pension schemes manage assets between £300m and [...]
Who will be Labour’s next John Prescott? November 25, 2024 He couldn’t have been more different to Tony Blair, yet John Prescott ended up being our longest serving deputy prime minister. But is there a talent like him in Starmer’s cabinet? Asks William Atkinson As well as having a decent right hook, the late John Prescott was our longest-serving deputy prime minister (DPM). The formal creation of the [...]
Five things Rachel Reeves should do if she’s serious about growth November 19, 2024 Rachel Reeves’ pensions reforms are welcome, but they are treating the symptoms, not the causes of low growth. Here’s what she should do next…. In her Mansion House speech last week, Rachel Reeves announced the consolidation of the 86 Local Government Pensions Schemes (LGPS) into eight ‘megafunds’, unlocking deep reserves of investment finance. This is [...]
Non-doms: South Africa’s richest woman is fighting to stay in the UK November 18, 2024 When it comes to leaving countries in a hurry, Magda Wierzycka has plenty of experience. At just 12 years old, the South African entrepreneur and her parents fled their native Poland under the the cover of night, becoming refugees after its communist government declared martial law. Ending up in South Africa – via an Austrian [...]