Week in Business: The tragedy of Labour’s tax addiction July 10, 2025 From the housing market to the stock exchange, some taxes need to be reformed or reduced - but this government only wants to hike rates.
Ed Miliband rules out zonal energy pricing July 10, 2025 The UK government has ruled out the introduction of a zonal energy pricing system that would have seen regions closer to renewable energy sources likelier to see lower prices. Ed Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has opted to reform the existing system by reviewing the way transmission charges work and incentivising the [...]
Greenergy biodiesel plant do shut down in latest industrial strategy blow July 10, 2025 One of Britain’s biggest biodiesel plants is preparing to shut down in the latest blow to the government’s industrial strategy. The Greenergy plant in Lincolnshire, which is thought to produce as much as a quarter of the UK’s biodiesel, on Thursday confirmed it would begin consultation on a proposal to cease production. Greenergy said its [...]
Benefits claimants take home more than minimum wage workers July 10, 2025 Brits claiming sickness benefits can be paid up to £25,000, which is more than the take home pay of a minimum wage worker. That’s according to new research from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), which found that if a claimant is receiving universal credit incapacity benefits alongside personal independence payments and housing benefits, the total [...]
Ofcom relaxes Royal Mail delivery targets to cut costs July 10, 2025 Royal Mail will be allowed to deliver first and second class letters more slowly after its delivery targets were slashed by the communications watchdog in a bid to cut costs. From the end of July, Britain’s postal service will be allowed to deliver second class letters on alternate weekdays, Monday to Friday, instead of six [...]
Vistry looks to ‘transformative’ government investment as profit drops July 10, 2025 Housebuilder Vistry has reported a sharp drop in profit but expects activity to pick up later in the year as the government’s affordable homes investment filters into the market. Vistry, which unseated Barratt as the UK’s biggest housebuilder last September, told markets that it expects adjusted operating profit to be £125m in the first half [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
