The UK has the tools, talent and expertise to unlock growth November 18, 2024 In a competitive global environment, Britain has everything it needs to succeed, but there are a few ways the government could help, says Chris Hayward The Chancellor’s Mansion House speech laid out a bold and detailed vision for the UK’s economy and financial services sector. The message is clear: Britain is not only primed for [...]
We need to regulate for growth, not just for risk November 15, 2024 In her Mansion House speech, the Chancellor did not shy away from the need to deliver reform to support financial services to innovate, grow and finance investment across Britain, says Tulip Siddiq Financial services are at the heart of our economy, employing 1.2m people – from London to Edinburgh, from Manchester to Belfast. The sector [...]
How Rachel Reeves plans to use pension pots to fund an investment boom November 14, 2024 The Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to lay out one of the most significant shake-ups of the pension system in decades today after years of calls from the City to lean on the sector to fund an investment boom. Currently, 86 different local government pension schemes manage assets between £300m and £30bn, with local government [...]
Reeves eyes £80bn investment with pension ‘megafunds’ November 14, 2024 The Chancellor Rachel Reeves will unveil plans to consolidate the UK’s sprawling £400bn local authority pension schemes today in a bid to unlock a wave of investment into the UK. In her first Mansion House speech in the City, Reeves is expected to announce a new Pension Schemes Bill to be introduced next year, aiming [...]
Strong governments must be prepared to upset the markets (a bit) November 12, 2024 The bond markets are a potent opposition, but governments must be prepared to take risks if they are ever to reap rewards, says Charles White-Thomson With a large majority and an election years away, the Prime Minister and Chancellor likely don’t feel the need to worry too much about what the electorate think. But one [...]
The real reason Britain doesn’t build November 11, 2024 Planning isn’t the only reason we have a housing shortage, too many developments just aren’t economically viable, says Melanie Leech The government is undoubtedly right to focus its efforts on reforming the planning system. Ask the anyone in the property industry and they will say that the system is complex, burdensome, under-resourced, and prone to [...]
Will the world’s super wealthy still buy in London? November 7, 2024 The abolition of non-dom status and stamp duty on second homes may sound like bad news for super-prime property, but the reality is more nuanced, says Trevor Kearney The delivery of Rachel Reeves’ first Budget marks a significant shift in the UK’s fiscal landscape, especially for London’s super-prime property market. While headlines focus on the [...]
How to protect your wealth from inheritance tax November 7, 2024 The inheritance tax regime is changing but don’t panic – plan. Here’s how… The Chancellor’s Budget featured many ambitious promises, bold changes, and, of course, cuts. Among these was a reform to Inheritance Tax (IHT), which is the levy applied to the estate of someone who has passed. By bringing inherited pensions into the scope [...]
Investment can boost growth – if it comes with technological progress November 6, 2024 Economic theory does regard capital investment as a contributor to economic growth, but there is another essential factor: technical progress, says Paul Ormerod The need to boost the UK’s rate of economic growth was a central theme of the first budget delivered by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor. Reeves emphasised the importance of increasing the amount [...]
The NHS will soon cost more than the GDP of New Zealand November 5, 2024 Spending on health and social care will hit £200bn by the end of this parliament – more than the entire economy of New Zealand – as Britain heads towards being a £1.5 trillion state, says Emma Revell New Zealand sounds, by all accounts, like a pretty sweet country. For a start, it is one of [...]