Rachel Reeves’s City Big Bang
Boosting economic growth is the one objective that trumps all others for Sir Keir Starmer’s government. Ministers hope that rising Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will provide the funds needed to fix crumbling public service and deliver the change that Labour promised voters at the last general election. Yet despite their efforts, growth remains disappointingly sluggish. […]
A New Chapter for the NHS: Labour’s 10-Year Plan Aims to Reset the Narrative
Ministers marked the first the anniversary of ‘Labour’s return to power last week with a bold and sweeping announcement: a ten-year plan for transforming the NHS. After a politically bruising week dominated by backlash over welfare reforms, this new health strategy is being positioned as a turning point not just for the NHS, but for […]
What the Treasury’s Public-Sector Building Plans Mean for Business
Ministers yesterday unveiled the 10-Year National Infrastructure Strategy, backed by at least £725 billion of government funding over the next decade. Announced to MPs by Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the strategy aims to deliver “stability, investment and national renewal.” Infrastructure planning and investment are central to this Government’s mission to get […]
14 Things About the Spending Review
Yesterday’s Spending Review will shape UK politics until the eve of the next election. Arden has produced a 50 page (yes, 50 page!) briefing for our clients. Below, we’ve provided a flavour of the analysis from our Founder and Executive Chair, Jim Murphy. To Govern is to Choose Reeves has committed to maintaining fiscal discipline, […]
Five Things to Watch for in Spending Review 2025
As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver her first multi-year Comprehensive Spending Review next Wednesday, expectations are high—and so are the stakes. This review will set departmental budgets through the remainder of the Parliament and will be a defining moment for the Government’s fiscal strategy. 1. Fiscal Rules vs. Public Service Demands Reeves has committed […]
Is Reform UK Trying to Outflank Labour to the Left on Benefits?
When Nigel Farage unveiled Reform UK’s latest economic policies last week much of the package had a familiar ring. Pledges to fund income tax cuts by dumping net zero targets and diversity policies had already featured in the party’s last general election manifesto. What was new, and markedly different, was the announcement that Reform wants […]
Making Britain Safer: Strategic Defence Review 2025
The Government has at last published the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) that ministers commissioned nearly a year ago. It is understandable that Lord Robertson and his review team took their time over the document. Ongoing war in Ukraine, rising tensions in the Middle East and the election of US President Donald Trump have altered the […]
How Keir Starmer Will Think Through His First Reshuffle
Reshuffle speculation has once again captured the imagination of the Westminster bubble. With a lull in the political news agenda around this week’s parliamentary recesses, media commentators and Labour insiders alike are asking whether Sir Keir Starmer is soon set to shake up his frontbench and pondering who is in line for promotion and who […]
Reeves’ Fiscal Rules vs Starmer’s Policy Asks
Rachel Reeves is facing a pivotal moment in the run up to next month’s Spending Review. With mounting pressure from within her own party and a shifting political landscape, the Chancellor is being urged to reverse two controversial welfare policies: the two-child benefit cap and cuts to winter fuel payments. But can she do so […]
The EU–UK Reset Deal: A New Era of Cooperation and Partnership
The EU–UK “reset deal” announced yesterday marks the most significant shift in relations since Brexit, with major implications for business, energy, and defence. This agreement, forged between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU leaders, aims to ease trade frictions, deepen defence cooperation, and re-establish trust after years of political turbulence. For businesses, the deal offers […]
