IoD boss joins criticism of Peter Kyle’s U-turn on Audit reform January 23, 2026 The bosses of the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors are among some City leaders hitting back against the government’s U-turn on the Audit Bill. In a scathing open letter to the Business Secretary, Peter Kyle, the leaders called the move “a significant step backwards, particularly after the commitment made [...]
Climate minister: We can’t tackle the climate crisis without the City January 23, 2026 As climate minister, I want to work with people who can actually deliver real change, which is why I need the City, writes Katie White.
Private sector bounces back but Reeves leaves hospitality reeling January 23, 2026 The UK’s private sector expanded at the fastest rate in nearly two years in the first month of 2026 but the reeling hospitality sector was still feeling the crunch from Labour policy. The latest Flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) from S&P Global showed a major uptick in the all-important services sector, which is often seen [...]
Consumer confidence has been negative for 10 years January 23, 2026 Consumer confidence inched up slightly this month despite remaining in negative territory, a leading survey has indicated, indicating a degree of “resilience” despite a decade of consumer pessimism. The overall index score on GfK’s closely monitored consumer confidence survey rose by one point while feelings about personal finances over the next 12 months edged [...]
Where does Britain stand in the New World Order? January 22, 2026 A new world order has been declared and described by Canada’s Mark Carney. Is he right, and if so, is there room in it for Britain? Davos, that alpine gathering of the great and the good, is normally a predictably dull affair. To give you a flavour of its worthiness, consider the formal title for [...]
Nigel Farage: Reform will tax the banks even if they don’t like it January 22, 2026 Nigel Farage has confirmed Reform will slap a tax on the UK’s banking giants in the latest dramatic escalation of his party’s tensions with the City. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in the Davos, Farage said: “This will be tough for banks to accept but I am sorry – the drain on public finances [...]
Total UK government borrowing beats OBR forecast January 22, 2026 UK government has already borrowed more this year than the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast, official data has revealed, wrapping up a difficult 12 months for Rachel Reeves as she grapples with keeping public finances safe from further shocks. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated public sector borrowing to have been £11.6bn over the [...]
Inflation remains a headache on both sides of the Atlantic January 22, 2026 Donald Trump made many claims in his Davos speech yesterday and there aren’t enough pages in this newspaper to do justice to them all, but his assertion that “inflation has been defeated” is worth considering. With midterm elections coming up Trump knows the cost of living is a real concern, just as it is here, [...]
Mark Kleinman: Reeves’ ISA reforms pose more risk than reward January 22, 2026 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City PM column Reeves’ ISA reforms pose more risk than reward If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That sounds like the right epithet to apply to the Treasury’s approach to reforming individual savings accounts (ISAs), one of the [...]
Son-of-a-toolmaker Starmer is a poor workman January 22, 2026 Successful organisations, from businesses to governments, work best when their leaders are able to articulate a clear, long-term vision, says Paul Ormerod Keir Starmer has been complaining that the machinery of government does not work properly. When he pulls a policy lever, very little happens. This has provoked a public argument with the health secretary, [...]
