4 d. ago Labour needs to wake up to the folly of wealth taxes that are an own goal: ALEX BRUMMER

Ask Sir Jim Ratcliffe, retailer Sir Philip Green, F1 star Sir Lewis Hamilton et al. They voted with their feet long ago.

Economics

6 d. ago ALEX BRUMMER: Chancellor's emotional rollercoaster set to continue

The U-turns on welfare and winter fuel, together with likely revisions to OBR growth assumptions, suggest the opening of a £20billion to £30billion funding chasm to be closed in the autumn.

Politics

1 week ago ALEX BRUMMER: Labour has trapped us all in a doom loop of ever higher taxes and welfare spending. Things are bad now but, with four years to go, this is how much worse they can get

As every football fan knows, the moment the club chairman is forced to quell rumours of the manager's imminent demise by issuing a vote of confidence, the gaffer's days are numbered.

Economics

1 week ago Reeves expected to freeze income tax thresholds to raise funds after welfare U

Government’s concessions over welfare cuts leave chancellor with a growing hole in her budgetRachel Reeves is expected to extend a freeze on income tax thresholds to raise fresh funds after the government’s U-turn on welfare cuts left her with a growing budget hole.The chancellor was already facing pressure to backtrack on pledges not to increase taxes further as she attempted to fix public services and grow the economy while meeting her fiscal rules. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Reeves expected to freeze income tax thresholds to raise fresh funds

Government’s U-turn on welfare cuts leaves chancellor with a growing hole in her budgetBusiness live – latest updatesRachel Reeves is expected to extend a freeze on income tax thresholds to raise fresh funds after the government’s U-turn on welfare cuts left her with a growing budget hole.The chancellor was already facing pressure to backtrack on pledges not to increase taxes further as she attempted to fix public services and grow the economy while meeting her fiscal rules. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago ALEX BRUMMER: All that Lady Thatcher achieved will now go up in flames like an oil drum brazier on a picket line...

The potential damage to an already stuttering economy, weighed down by the Chancellor's growth-sapping £40 billion of tax rises, doesn't bear thinking about.

Politics

3 w. ago The Bank of England never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity, says ALEX BRUMMER

The latest minutes from the Bank of England show that after an unexpectedly firm start to the year, the British economy has descended into gloom.

Politics

3 w. ago Now it's Labour's turn to face the music when global events turn sour: ALEX BRUMMER

Yesterday's claim by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that Labour's number one mission is to 'put more money in the pockets of working people' does not stand up to scrutiny.

Politics

3 w. ago Fed chief Powell's stubborn defiance on interest rates risks an avoidable downturn, says ALEX BRUMMER

The Federal Reserve's rate hold should come as no surprise. Chairman Jay Powell is determined to preserve the US central bank's independence.

Events

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves's policies will see UK economy 'muddle through' for next two years, CBI warns

It marks the latest downbeat verdict on Ms Reeves's performance as Chancellor - and undermines Keir Starmer's claim that Labour has 'fixed the foundations of the economy'.

Events

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves's policies will see UK economy just 'muddle through' for the next two years, industry group warns

It marks the latest downbeat verdict on Ms Reeves's performance as Chancellor - and undermines Keir Starmer's claim that Labour has 'fixed the foundations of the economy'.

Events

4 w. ago The six claims from Rachel Reeves that would never pass the test on a lie detector: ALEX BRUMMER

Rachel Reeves 's spending review was one of the most disingenuous statements I can remember in my long career as a financial journalist.

Politics

last month ALEX BRUMMER: If this is a fixed economy, I'd hate to see a broken one

Nearly half a century has passed since Margaret Thatcher skewered the incumbent PM James Callaghan at the 1979 election with her famous ' Labour Isn't Working' poster, which showed...

Politics