News And Announcements
Chancellor's needs to find £5bn to 'end austerity' - IFS
Chancellor Philip Hammond’s 2019 budget could fall £5bn short of to fulfill his pledge to “end austerity”, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has calculated.
Defence secretary unveils cut-price warship plan
The Ministry of Defence has unveiled plans for two new cut-price military ships and a swarm of unmanned drones as part of a wider plan to modernise the armed forces on the cheap.
UK trade deficit shrinks less than hoped
The UK's trade deficit shrank in December, but this was a small crumb of comfort when manufacturing, construction and overall economic growth all shrank too.
UK and Switzerland formally sign trade deal
The UK and Switzerland have formally agreed a trade deal which will see the two countries continue trading on the same terms post Brexit.
UK households '£1,500 poorer because of Brexit'
UK households are £1,500 worse off than they were predicted to be prior to the Brexit referendum, a think tank has claimed.
Govt immigration plan 'could harm higher education'
The government’s immigration plans could harm higher education, the NHS and could potentially generate a new Windrush scandal, according to a new analysis.
UK economic growth at six-year low
The UK economy slowed sharply at the end of 2018, official data showed on Monday, defying analyst expectations and weighing heavily on annual GDP growth.
One in ten UK shops empty amid 'perfect storm'
Shopper visits to the high street, retail parks and shopping centres all fell last month, fresh data showed on Monday, while a newspaper report on the same day said mistrust between retailers and landlords was stoking a “perfect storm” for retail landlords.
BAE Systems wins contract to design next-generation Canadian frigate
BAE Systems has won the contract to design Canada's next-generation anti-submarine warfare frigate, a modified version of the Royal Navy's Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
House builders cutting infrastructure payments - NAO
House builders are cutting infrastructure payments to local councils for new developments while increasing their own profit margins and those contributions were failing to keep pace with property price rises, according to a report released on Friday.
Fund manager fined for influencing IPO price
A former fund manager has been fined over £32,000 by the City watchdog for misconduct during an initial public offering and placing.
Juncker, May agree to new Brexit talks after 'robust' meeting
Jean-Claude Juncker and Theresa May held “robust” Brexit discussions on Thursday with no tangible progress on the Irish backstop, but agreed to hold further talks to break the impasse.
BoE says Brexit having greater than anticipated effects on UK
Rate-setters at the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street chose to keep a steady hand on the tiller on Thursday, even as they cut their near-term economic forecasts for the UK in the face of slower growth abroad and the stiffer-than-anticipated headwinds from Brexit.
Jobless claims drop less than expected
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell less than expected last week, according to figures from the Labor Department.
Labour MPs furious at Corbyn's Brexit offer to May
A row broke out within Labour ranks on Thursday after Jeremy Corbyn listed five demands for Brexit in return for his party's support on the withdrawal agreement.
House price growth eases in January - Halifax
Annual house price growth in the UK eased in January, according to the latest data from lender Halifax.
Ofgem hikes energy price cap due to cost increases
Just over a month after the energy price cap was introduced, it will be hiked on 1 April due to increasing wholesale costs, the energy watchdog said.
Tobacco firms 'not paying enough UK corporation tax'
Large tobacco companies have been accused of not paying enough UK corporation tax compared to the profits they make.
Cuadrilla complains earthquake rules deter its fracking work
Fracking firm Cuadrilla complained on Wednesday that its work was being deterred due to the current UK rules and called for a review of strict regulations on earthquakes.
UK 'will grow at 1.5%' in 2019 if soft Brexit agreed
UK gross domestic product will grow 1. 5% this year if Britain leaves the European Union on a soft Brexit scenario, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.