The UK labour market suffered its sharpest decline in payroll employment since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest official data, with wage growth cooling and job vacancies continuing to fall. Figures from HM Revenue & Customs revealed that the number of payroll employees fell by just over 109,000 in May — […]
Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a £1 billion investment package aimed at scaling up the UK’s computing power twentyfold, in a major push to solidify Britain’s status as a global technology and artificial intelligence leader. Opening London Tech Week this morning, the prime minister said the investment would form part of the government’s long-term ambition […]
The number of inheritance tax (IHT) investigations launched by HM Revenue & Customs has soared by more than a third over the past year, as the government intensifies efforts to crack down on underpayment and boost Treasury revenues. New figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by accountancy firm Price Bailey reveal that HMRC […]
Stores opened their doors at midnight across the globe as Nintendo fans scrambled to get their hands on the highly anticipated Switch 2, the gaming giant’s first direct console sequel. The launch saw eager queues from Tokyo to Toronto, with UK tech retailer Currys calling it their “biggest gaming pre-order ever” after selling 30,000 units […]
Tata Steel, the UK’s largest steelmaker, faces potential exclusion from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new tariff-free trade agreement with the United States, prompting urgent talks between ministers and US counterparts. The company, which operates the vast Port Talbot site in south Wales, fears it may fall foul of stringent US origin rules that threaten its […]
More than 2,500 leading voices from the UK’s arts sector, including the heads of the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, have signed an open letter warning that Labour’s proposed changes to the Access to Work scheme risk excluding disabled people from the workforce entirely. Indhu Rubasingham, artistic director of the National Theatre, and Tamara […]
Scammers stole £47 million from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by fraudulently accessing more than 100,000 taxpayer accounts using phishing tactics, the tax authority has revealed. The large-scale fraud was exposed during a Treasury Select Committee hearing, where senior HMRC officials were criticised for failing to inform MPs earlier. According to the department, the criminals […]
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that more pensioners will be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this year, signalling a U-turn on one of Labour’s earliest and most contentious policies. The payment – worth up to £300 – had previously been limited to those receiving pension credit, cutting support to around 10 million pensioners in […]
An increasing number of American taxpayers are eyeing the UK as their new home, according to Blick Rothenberg, a leading UK-based audit, tax, and business advisory firm. The trend is being fuelled by a mix of political uncertainty in the United States and the relative attractiveness of the UK as a destination for high-net-worth individuals […]
TikTok has formed a new SME Council to give Britain’s small businesses a bigger say in the evolving digital economy, bringing together entrepreneurs, founders, and content creators who have used the platform to fuel growth. The inaugural gathering of the council, held at Stoke-on-Trent town hall, saw 20 small and medium-sized business owners from across […]