‘Back again? Dear oh dear’: King Charles greets PM Liz Truss October 13, 2022 King Charles appeared to mutter ‘dear oh dear’ as he met Prime Minister Liz Truss in his first audience with her since he became the new monarch. In a video widely shared online, Truss is seen entering the room in Buckingham Palace and being introduced before bowing, and saying: “Your Majesty, great to see you [...]
Bank of England warns of ‘severe risks’ to market stability and financial crisis debt levels October 12, 2022 The Bank of England’s emergency £65bn bond buying scheme – that its chief Andrew Bailey last night confirmed will end on Friday – has been fighting “severe risks” to UK financial stability, the central bank said today. Turmoil in UK gilt markets since the government’s mini budget threatened to trigger “an excessive and sudden tightening [...]
Deutsche Bank slams Kwarteng’s targets as ‘impossible’ amid NIESR warning ‘guerrilla tactics’ unsettle markets October 12, 2022 Deutsche Bank’s chief UK economist said this morning Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” to trigger the financial turmoil. Sanjay Raja told the Commons Treasury Committee there is “absolutely a global component” to the issues but he said there is an “idiosyncratic UK-specific component”. He said the “trade shock” because [...]
Exclusive: Ex Tory chair Baroness Warsi says PM Liz Truss should call a General Election October 12, 2022 A former chair of the Conservative Party has said Prime Minister Liz Truss should call a General Election. Speaking exclusively to City PM, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi said prime minister Liz Truss either “had to just carry on with the 2019 manifesto – or go to the electorate” upon entering Number 10. “Because neither of those [...]
Bank of England steps up bond market support again to tame ‘risk to financial stability’ October 11, 2022 The Bank of England today stepped up its emergency bond buying scheme to tackle “a material risk to UK financial stability”. It is the second time in as many days the Bank has ramped up support for the UK bond market, underscoring the scale of volatility it is grappling with. The monetary authority led by [...]
Astonishment as Liz Truss fails to mention today’s Bank of England emergency move during Cabinet meeting October 11, 2022 There is widespread astonishment among City analysts and Westminster insiders as Liz Truss failed to discuss the Bank of England’s latest emergency move with her Cabinet this morning. Downing Street said this afternoon the Bank of England’s latest intervention did not come up at Tuesday morning’s Cabinet meeting, nor did uprating benefits. Asked if the [...]
£62bn of spending cuts needed to balance books, IFS forecasts October 11, 2022 Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng will need to slim the size of the state by £62bn to put the UK’s public finances on a stable footing, a top economic think tank said today. The prime minister and chancellor could be forced to reduce education and transport spending, which suffered deep cuts during the David Cameron [...]
OBR financial report and government fiscal plan to be delivered on 31 October October 10, 2022 The UK’s spending and borrowing watchdog’s assessment of the government’s tax cutting splurge will be released on 31 October, chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced today. In a letter to Tory MP and chair of the treasury select committee, Mel Stride, Kwarteng said he has decided to bring the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) forecasts forward from [...]
Trade minister Conor Burns has whip suspended over claims of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ October 7, 2022 The Conservatives have suspended the whip for Trade Minister Conor Burns MP over claims of “inappropriate behaviour” at the Party conference this week. A Whips’ Office spokesman told City PM:“We have suspended the Whip pending investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour earlier this week. “We take all such allegations extremely seriously. The Prime Minister has [...]
Pound slumps against US dollar after Fitch sounds alarm on UK finances October 6, 2022 The pound slumped against the US dollar today while UK debt sold off after one of the world’s top credit rating agencies issued a sombre warning to investors about the country’s finances. Sterling weakened 1.55 per cent against the greenback to buy 1.115. It fell by a slightly smaller amount against the euro too. The [...]
