FTSE 100 Live: Vodafone shares lead blue-chip rally; Unemployment rises November 11, 2025 Good morning from the City PM liveblog team. What are you looking forward to more – Black Friday or Budget day? They are two vital days that UK retailers are bracing for in this month’s calendar, both of which can provide a major boost to firms – or crushing disappointment. Retail sales today show another [...]
Brits confidence in European economy outpaces UK as Budget fears grow November 11, 2025 Brits have admitted to having more confidence in the strength of the European and global economy than the UK as Budget fears consume the country. Fresh Barclays research has revealed Brits confidence in the European economy has ranked above the UK for the tenth consecutive month. Of the 2,000 surveyed, 22 per cent had faith [...]
I’m 31 and pay thousands into my pension: taxing my contributions could be the last straw November 11, 2025 The Chancellor’s threat of a a two per cent national insurance tax on salary sacrifice contributions above £2,000 is deeply unfair, says Martin Kimber People tend to look at me like I’ve just admitted to collecting antique Victorian dolls when I tell them I sacrifice 15 per cent of my salary into a pension. However, [...]
Two thirds of Brits want tax-raising Reeves to resign November 11, 2025 The latest City PM/Freshwater Strategy poll will make difficult for the Chancellor, says Matthew Lesh Last week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves played with fire. In what was officially titled a “scene setter” speech ahead of the Budget, she tried to soften the ground for tax rises. After committing to not come back for more after last [...]
Retailers hit by subdued October as Budget threat looms November 11, 2025 UK retailers suffered a “subdued” October as Brits tightened their pockets ahead of what is expected to be a tax-heavy Autumn Budget. Retail sales increased 1.6 per cent year-on-year but remained below the 12-month average of 2.1 per cent, marking the weakest growth since May. The new data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and [...]
Legal sector defies economic headwinds with rising headcount and profits November 10, 2025 Despite ongoing pressure on salaries and increases in employment taxes, legal firms have reported an average headcount increase of nearly 4 per cent over the past year. According to the ‘law firm benchmarking report’ by professional service firm Crowe, the headcount growth was concentrated among fee earners, but nearly half of firms reported either no [...]
Rachel Reeves concedes manifesto pledges may be dropped November 10, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested that Labour manifesto commitments will be ditched amid a “significantly worse” economic inheritance than expected last year. In an interview with the BBC, Reeves said she would prefer to increase government spending on infrastructure rather than cut taxes for Britons. When asked whether the government would stick to manifesto commitments, [...]
Reeves’ LLP tax proposal will undermine ‘cornerstone of UK economy’ November 10, 2025 A professional services trade body warned that Rachel Reeves’ proposed increase in NICs for LLPs could lead to widespread conversion to limited company structures, undermining a successful British business model. The limited liability partnership (LLP) model, in which members (known as partners) invest their own capital in the business, was introduced 25 years ago and [...]
Reeves set to bring in US-style whistleblowing pay for HMRC November 10, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to reveal a US-style whistleblower scheme to combat large-scale tax fraud. Later this month, HMRC is expected to launch a reward scheme, according to the Financial Times, which could pay informants as much as 30 per cent of any taxes collected as a result of tip-offs. The new US-style incentive [...]
Autumn Budget: How could Rachel Reeves change salary sacrifice rules? November 10, 2025 Salary sacrifice schemes have allowed Brits earning more than £100,000 to avoid high taxes since the 1970s. While a pay rise can be lucrative for some employees, for others being dragged over the £100,000 threshold can be financially damaging, particularly for parents of young children who risk having their free childcare hours pulled away and [...]
