Chancellor Rachel Reeves will travel to Washington this week to make the case for global free trade at the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings, as Britain faces mounting pressure from punitive tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Reeves will use the high-profile forum — attended by global finance ministers and central bankers — to […]
The UK government has been accused of “sabotaging” its own tourism industry after new figures revealed that international visitor spending fell by more than £2 billion in 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels, despite a global recovery in travel. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), overseas visitors spent £40.3 billion in the UK […]
More than eight million people will find themselves paying higher rates of income tax by the end of the decade due to the long-term freezing of tax thresholds, according to the UK’s official forecaster. In projections released alongside the March spring statement, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said that 8.3 million people would be […]
The UK is set to ramp up its weapons manufacturing capabilities in a strategic move to reduce reliance on imports from the United States and France, amid growing concerns over the reliability of international defence partners. BAE Systems, Europe’s largest defence contractor, is spearheading the effort with plans to establish new domestic facilities for the […]
London Gatwick has once again been named the UK’s most delay-prone airport, according to official figures from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Flights from the West Sussex airport departed an average of 23 minutes late in 2024 — the worst performance among Britain’s major airports for the second consecutive year. The delay figure marks a […]
Drones could soon be deployed for NHS deliveries, offshore wind turbine inspections and supply missions to oil rigs under sweeping changes to the UK’s drone regulations planned for 2026. The government is preparing to allow drones to fly beyond the operator’s visual line of sight (BVLOS), a major step that would unlock long-distance missions across […]
The founder of logistics firm Shift is attempting to block Polish delivery giant InPost’s £106 million acquisition of Yodel, escalating a bitter dispute over the struggling British courier’s ownership. Jacob Corlett, 31-year-old chief executive of Shift, is seeking a court injunction that could temporarily prevent InPost from making material changes to Yodel, though it would […]
British officials have begun classifying sensitive trade documents as “secret” and “top secret” in a bid to shield key information from American counterparts, as relations between London and Washington strain under President Trump’s tariff war, Business Matters has learned. The move marks a significant shift in internal government protocols, underscoring concerns over the potential misuse […]
The government must show greater ambition and urgency in addressing the employment prospects of older workers if it hopes to meet its goal of an 80% employment rate, according to the 50+ Employment Taskforce. Responding to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, which reveal a significant employment gap between younger and older […]
Polish delivery group InPost has acquired Yodel in a major shake-up of the UK logistics sector, converting £100 million of debt into equity to assume control of the embattled courier company. The takeover marks the latest chapter in Yodel’s turbulent journey, following its separation from the Barclay family’s business interests and a near-collapse last year. […]