More than a quarter of UK workers are worried that artificial intelligence could lead to job losses, according to new research that has prompted calls for businesses to adopt clear policies on AI use and maintain open communication with staff. A survey conducted by Acas—the public body advising on workplace relations—found that 26 per cent […]
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has launched a scathing attack on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), accusing the institution of turning a blind eye to China’s export-led economic dominance and neglecting its core responsibilities in favour of climate and social policy work. In a high-profile speech at the Institute of International Finance in Washington, Bessent […]
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has acknowledged that the United States “has a point” in criticising global trade imbalances, lending support to concerns raised by the Trump administration as the UK grapples with the economic fallout of rising tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty. Speaking at an event hosted by the Institute of International Finance in […]
Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts have hit a record high of £8.2 billion in the 2024-25 tax year, as rising asset values and long-frozen thresholds continue to draw more families into the tax net—even before major upcoming changes that will extend liability to pensions and farmland. New figures from HM Revenue & Customs show a significant […]
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged to review a controversial tax loophole that allows low-value goods from Chinese e-commerce giants such as Shein and Temu to enter the UK without paying customs duties—a move aimed at protecting British retailers from unfair competition and goods being “dumped” on the high street. The scheme, known as the “de […]
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out any lowering of UK import standards on food and vehicles, including chlorinated chicken, hormone-treated beef and US-made trucks, as trade talks with the Trump administration enter a critical phase. Speaking ahead of her first official meeting with US economic officials in Washington this week, Reeves made it clear that […]
UK luxury brands have been hit with fresh disruption after DHL temporarily suspended shipments worth more than $800 to the United States, as a result of escalating trade restrictions imposed by the Trump administration. The logistics giant halted its business-to-consumer deliveries to the US on Monday, citing a spike in paperwork and customs complexity caused […]
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has launched a new Defence & Economic Growth Taskforce aimed at unlocking the potential of the UK’s defence sector to drive long-term national growth, innovation, and economic resilience. Backed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Defence Secretary John Healey, the taskforce brings together top-level figures from across the defence, financial, […]
The UK’s office market may have reached a turning point, with vacancy rates falling for the first time since the start of the pandemic. New data reveals a modest but symbolically significant drop in the amount of empty office space, suggesting that businesses are beginning to reclaim the desks they once deserted. According to commercial […]
British Steel has officially withdrawn plans to make up to 2,700 workers at its Scunthorpe plant redundant, following an emergency intervention by the UK government earlier this month that secured the company’s immediate future. The move ends a period of intense uncertainty for employees at the Lincolnshire steelworks, after Chinese-owned parent company Jingye announced its […]