trending_flat

US Cuts Tariffs on UK Cars and Planesโ€”But Steel Industry Left Behind

Tariff reductions for UK automotive and aerospace sectors have taken effect following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's completion of negotiations for relief from US import duties. UK car manufacturers exporting to America now face a reduced 10% tariff quota, down from the previous 27.5%, while aerospace companies will see a 10% levy eliminated completely. Sir Keir described the agreement as a "historic trade deal" with the US, secured after President Donald Trump implemented import taxes as part of his "liberation day" tariffs affecting countries globally. The Prime Minister and US President finalized the sectoral agreement during the G7 summit, though steel tariffs remain at 25% instead of being reduced to zero as initially negotiated. Discussions continue regarding securing 0% tariffs on core UK steel products destined for US markets. Trump's executive order indicates the US seeks guarantees regarding UK steel […]

trending_flat

This ยฃ1,300 Career Penalty Could Be Costing Young Workers – And It’s All About Where You Live

Younger workers in England encounter significant wage disparities based on geographic location rather than personal qualifications, according to new research highlighting regional pay inequalities. Data from the Resolution Foundation reveals substantial earning differences across England, with London workers earning nearly double their counterparts in areas like Liskeard, Cornwall. The analysis examined over 11 million early-career workers throughout England. The research indicates these wage gaps stem from workplace location rather than worker characteristics. Early-career employees face approximately 5% "place-based pay penalties," potentially costing around ยฃ1,300 annually when moving from high-paying markets like Harrogate to lower-paying areas such as Dudley. These findings challenge previous assumptions about regional wage inequality. Earlier studies suggested pay differences resulted from varying demographics between regions or local job market size. However, the new analysis demonstrates that larger job markets don't automatically generate higher wages. Cambridge workers, for […]

trending_flat

Government Unveils ยฃ275 Million Skills Training Program as Core of New Industrial Strategy

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will present a comprehensive industrial strategy on Monday, positioning skills training as the foundation for economic recovery and reduced dependence on foreign labor. The decade-long "national renewal" plan allocates ยฃ275 million toward training British workers for growth industry positions that currently require imported labor. The initiative targets specific sectors, including defense, engineering, digital technology, and construction. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds stated the strategy "will help transform our skills system to end the overreliance on foreign labor and ensure British workers can secure good, well-paid jobs in the industries of tomorrow and drive growth and investment right across the country." The industrial strategy launch will precede a new trade plan later this week designed to establish the UK as the world's most business-connected nation. Economic pressures have intensified following recent data showing the economy contracted 0.3% […]

trending_flat

Major Trade Breakthrough as Canada Finally Backs Britain’s Pacific Deal After Years of Stalemate

Canada has committed to ratifying Britain's membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) following discussions between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa. The Canadian government plans to introduce parliamentary legislation this autumn to formally approve Britain's entry into the trade bloc. While the UK joined the CPTPP in 2024, both Canada and Mexico have yet to complete the ratification process, preventing British exporters from accessing promised tariff-free benefits in these markets. The CPTPP encompasses eleven member nations, including Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam, representing a combined GDP of ยฃ12 trillion, according to government estimates. The agreement reduces import duties and trade barriers across financial services, manufacturing, and food and beverage sectors. During bilateral talks at Parliament Hill on Sunday, both leaders addressed the […]

trending_flat

Chancellor Rachel Reeves Announces Multi-Billion Pound Spending Plans

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is scheduled to present her comprehensive spending review to Parliament on Wednesday, outlining the government's financial allocations for the coming years. The spending review will establish day-to-day expenditure frameworks for the next three years and capital investment plans spanning four years. The proposals are anticipated to include increased funding for the National Health Service, defense, and education sectors. However, other government departments may face budget constraints as the Chancellor works to maintain compliance with her established fiscal parameters. The government's recent policy reversal on winter fuel payments has further limited available resources, with the benefit now extended to pensioners earning up to ยฃ35,000 annually, representing approximately ยฃ1.25 billion in additional Treasury costs. While complete details await Wednesday's parliamentary presentation, several significant allocations have been pre-announced: Public transport infrastructure in England's metropolitan areas will receive ยฃ15.6 billion in […]

trending_flat

UK Government Raises Winter Fuel Payment Eligibility Threshold to ยฃ35,000

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that pensioners with annual incomes of ยฃ35,000 or less will receive winter fuel payments, marking a significant shift from the previous policy, which restricted payments to only the lowest-income pensioners. The government will restore automatic payments as a universal benefit this winter, then recover funds from higher-income pensioners through their tax returns. This approach mirrors the system previously used by former Conservative Chancellor George Osborne for reducing child benefits. The policy adjustment means approximately 7.5 million pensioners in England and Wales will receive payments of up to ยฃ300 this winter, compared to the 1.5 million who were eligible under the previous restricted system. Following this change, 9 million pensioners will benefit this winter, up from the initial reduction that saw eligibility drop from 11.4 million to 1.5 million. The original decision to limit winter fuel […]

trending_flat

UK-EU Deal Promises New Era of Cooperation Amid Fishing Rights Controversy

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has unveiled a new trade agreement with the European Union, describing it as a "win-win" that marks the "start of a new era" in UK-EU relations. The deal, announced following a summit in London on Monday, aims to reset post-Brexit relations and move beyond previous disputes. "The EU and the UK wanting to work together; all of us prepared to say, let yesterday be yesterday; we are looking forward to tomorrow," Sir Keir stated during an event at Downing Street where he welcomed UK and EU business representatives. "We are not going to litigate old arguments; we are going to go forward in the spirit of what we do togetherโ€”we do better." The wide-ranging agreement includes provisions allowing more British travelers to use passport e-gates when visiting Europe and offers farmers easier access to […]

trending_flat

Bank of England’s Mann Explains Decision to Keep Interest Rates Steady

Bank of England interest rate-setter Catherine Mann revealed she voted to maintain current borrowing costs last week, despite previously advocating for a substantial 50-basis point cut in February, because the UK labor market has demonstrated greater resilience than anticipated. "The first observation is that the labor market has been more resilient. Now, yes, we've had some prints that are indicative of a slowing labor market, but it is not a non-linear adjustment," Mann explained during a CNBC television interview on Wednesday. Data released Tuesday showed a decline in employment, though economists characterized the decrease as relatively modest. Mann additionally expressed concern about rising household inflation expectations and goods price inflation. The Bank of England reduced its benchmark Bank Rate by a quarter percentage point on May 8, a decision supported by five of the nine members on the Monetary Policy […]

trending_flat

UK Pension Giants Commit ยฃ50 Billion to Private Investments in Growth Push

British pension funds pledged on Tuesday to invest up to 50 billion pounds ($66 billion) of additional capital into UK businesses and infrastructure as the government seeks to leverage private capital for public projects and economic growth. Seventeen investment firms, including Aviva, Legal & General, and M&G, committed to allocating up to 10% of their pension portfolios to infrastructure, property, and private equity by 2030. Half of this investment will be specifically directed toward UK assets. Millions of workplace pension scheme members will see their savings increasingly directed toward higher-risk, potentially higher-return assets such as early-stage businesses and green energy projects, alongside traditional investments in stocks and bonds. These pension fund managers will now compete directly with private equity and specialist investment firms in a market that investment data firm Preqin projects will exceed $30 trillion by 2030. Chancellor of […]

trending_flat

UK Labor Market Shows Signs of Cooling as Employment and Vacancies Fall

Britain's jobs market continued to cool last month, according to data revealing the impact of employer tax increases and Donald Trump's trade tariffs. The figures will likely reassure the Bank of England that inflation pressures are diminishing. Provisional tax office data released Tuesday showed employee numbers fell by nearly 33,000 in April following a 47,000 drop in March. Job vacancies declined further below pre-pandemic levels, decreasing by 42,000 - the largest drop in over a year - in the three months to April, reaching 761,000. Average weekly earnings, excluding bonuses, increased by 5.6% from January to March compared to the same period last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. This marks the slowest growth rate since the three months to November. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast regular wage growth of 5.7%. The pound and financial market expectations […]

Login to enjoy full advantages

Please login or subscribe to continue.

โœ–

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

โœ–

Stop following

Unfollow Cancel

โœ–

Cancel subscription

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription? You will lose your Premium access and stored playlists.

Go back Confirm cancellation

โœ–