The Bank of England is dying for data on private markets July 10, 2025 City Editor Simon Hunt on the stories that caught his eye this week Andrew Bailey’s svelte profile has attracted much City chatter the past year. Some say the guv’nor has a strict exercise regime to lose weight; skeptics reckon it’s Ozempic. Here’s my theory: Bailey is wearing so many different hats, the constant switch between [...]
UK and France agree to co-ordinate on nuclear deterrent July 10, 2025 The UK and France will co-ordinate more closely over nuclear deterrent plans, with any adversaries “threatening the vital interests” of either nations set to face a joint response to attacks. In a new agreement struck between Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, the two countries will work together on nuclear research and take a more aligned [...]
Labour’s tax addiction will end in tears July 10, 2025 It is now pretty much universally accepted that the government will launch a fresh tax raid in October’s budget. City economists expect the Treasury to be on the hunt for between £10bn and £20bn of additional revenue, though given the expensive u-turns on winter fuel payments and welfare reform combined with likely lower growth forecasts [...]
Starmer urged to ‘be honest’ about tax plans as business confidence slumps July 10, 2025 Business confidence has slumped to a three-year low as a “cocktail of costs” including higher taxes and tariff threats pour cold water on Keir Starmer’s claims of rising corporate optimism. The prime minister told MPs on Wednesday afternoon that business confidence had hit a nine-year high, citing a recent Lloyds Business Barometer, which typically reveals [...]
One pub to close every day in 2025, new data reveals July 10, 2025 Small pubs are being forced to close in the face of unsustainable costs pressures, according to new data. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland, amounting to more than 5,600 job losses. The industry body pointed to the heavy pressure of [...]
Something fiscal this way comes: Reeves haunted by ghosts of Truss and the OBR July 10, 2025 Haunted by the legacy of Truss and bound by the warnings of the OBR, Chancellor Rachel Reeves now faces a political and fiscal tragedy of her own, as internal rebellion and economic risks threaten her grip on stability, says Helen Thomas OBR, OBR, wherefore art thou OBR? The three letter acronym that oversees government finances [...]
Fintech leads surge in London finance hiring July 10, 2025 Fintech helped lead roaring growth in London’s finance hiring for the second quarter of the year as demand for risk professionals surged amid a more moribund jobs market for traditional lenders. New financial services jobs vacancies rose three per cent quarter-on-quarter, according to Morgan McKinley’s London Employment Monitor while Greater London fintech hiring is expected [...]
Reform top the polls but voters cool on Nigel Farage July 9, 2025 Reform UK continues to ride high in the opinion polls – climbing 16 points since last year’s election – yet voters appeared to have cooled on Nigel Farage as new City PM polling suggests he’s lost some of his shine. A post-government slump in support for the Conservative Party and lack of approval for the [...]
Fintechs lobby Rachel Reeves for tax incentives to boost listings July 9, 2025 Top British fintech firms have urged Rachel Reeves to provide incentives to list in London or risk losing them to rival markets overseas. Executives from Clearbank, Atom, Revolut and Zilch met the Chancellor on Wednesday morning ahead of the Treasury’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, in which fintech is expected to play a starring [...]
Bank of England warns on market impact of Trump tariffs July 9, 2025 The Bank of England has warned the UK could be particularly affected by further shocks to markets as a result of being “an open economy with a large financial sector”. The Bank’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) warned that while bond markets had deteriorated, they could be in a worse position if President Trump followed through [...]
