All Policy & legal articles – Page 2
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Chart of the WeekChart: Reduce National Insurance and business rates – poll of economists
A new survey of economists and policy experts by the Centre for British Progress think tank suggests experts think NICs and business rates should not be used to raise additional revenue, but VAT should
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Opinion‘The Labour Party Conference offered moments of political clarity and economic ambiguity’
The Labour conference in Liverpool shows that some of retail’s demands are breaking through to government, writes Helen Dickinson. But it also reveals that Labour’s priorities lie in fighting off the rise of Reform, not focusing on business
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AnalysisThe fight before Christmas: Tesco boss Murphy gears up for a very festive price war
In the looming shadow of a late autumn Budget which is filling businesses and consumers with dread, Tesco boss Ken Murphy is also predicting a price war before Christmas.
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NewsUK retailers to get business rates reprieve at Budget
UK retailers are set to escape being whacked with a higher business rates tax band at the coming budget, after the sector said higher charges would drive further inflation for customers.
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AnalysisWhat have retailers been saying about tariffs ahead of the golden quarter?
Retailers selling into the US are definitely feeling the effects, but some are being specific about what they think the impact might be
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Chart of the WeekChart: Drinks deposit scheme return rates by country
British consumers will soon face higher costs on drinks, with the promise of earning money back on returning their plastic bottles and alumninium drinks cans. The mooted deposit return scheme is due to come into force in October 2027.
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NewsBRC warns government any further tax rises will ‘keep shop prices higher for longer’
The British Retail Consortium has warned the government against any further tax rises on UK retailers, saying doing so would only serve to keep “shop prices higher for longer”.
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NewsBRC calls for urgent retail action on biodiversity loss
The British Retail Consortium has warned retailers to take urgent action on accelerating nature and biodiversity loss or “risk jeopardising supply chain resilience”.
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NewsGovernment unveils £5bn high streets investment boost
The government has unveiled plans to invest up to £5bn for over 300 high streets across the UK, as part of its new ‘Pride in Place’ programme.
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Opinion‘The uncomfortable truth is AI will cause significant job destruction’
Communication and truth-telling, both to colleagues and the wider population, will become a central task of boards and governments in the coming years, believes True’s Matt Truman
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NewsDFS CEO Tim Stacey: “The burden of taxation-driven inflation is high”
DFS posted a healthy 10% uplift in its customer orders against a subdued market, but chief executive Tim Stacey signalled that the macro policy environment was constraining investment and growth potential.
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Opinion‘Retailers must continue to make noise about unsustainable cost burdens’
Government-imposed financial pressures are inflicting pain on the heart of the retail industry – its people, believes Charlotte Hardie
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AnalysisKingfisher: the factors powering its success – and warning on business rates’ impact
DIY giant Kingfisher, owner of B&Q and Screwfix in the UK, lifted its full-year profit forecast to the upper end of expectations on the back of strong interims
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NewsBRC warns government against further tax rises in autumn Budget
The British Retail Consortium has warned the government against any further tax rises on retailers in the coming autumn Budget, saying any such moves risks “losing the battle against inflation”.
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NewsVery Group transformation boss steps down to join mayoral race
Online retailer Very Group’s chief finance and transformation officer is to step down and run as a mayoral candidate.
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NewsSir Sadiq Khan begins fight to “rescue Oxford Street”
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan spoke to attendees of the ‘This is Oxford Street’ event on Sunday, where traffic was banned from accessing a stretch of the road ahead of pedestrianisation plans.
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Chart of the WeekChart: Next shares its vacancy figures in warning on UK jobs market
Next sounded a warning about the UK economy alongside their results last week, pointing to rising unemployment and rising application numbers
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InterviewQ&A: Next CEO Lord Wolfson on navigating an ‘anaemic’ economic outlook
Next shares fell this morning as the retail bellwether cautioned that the UK economy is set for “anaemic” growth in the coming months.
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NewsNext posts big sales and profits rise, but sounds warning on UK job market
The fashion retailer reported group sales up by 10.3% and profit before tax up by 13.8% in the six months to July 2025 from 2024.
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NewsConsumer confidence drops to lowest level since spring as food inflation rises
Consumer confidence in the economy has hit its lowest level since spring as reports of growing food prices and UK economic struggles take hold.