This week we have been considering two major themes for our clients: a renewed domestic focus on regional growth led by Andy Burnham, and a wider geopolitical shift towards higher defence spending. Undoubtedly both have the potential to influence markets, taxation, public investment and therefore long-term financial planning. The first story concerns Andy Burnham’s proposed “Number 10 North”, a Manchester-based growth unit intended to give the prospective prime minister a str

Oh, for a quiet life. Sadly, there is no chance of that in UK politics as we have the certainty of soon welcoming our 6th Prime Minister since 2019. Andy Burnham returned to Parliament on Monday, and before his train had even arrived in London, Sir Keir Starmer had resigned as leader of the Labour party and therefore also given notice on his time as UK Prime Minister. Burnham is the anointed successor, with his by-election victory widely interpreted as a sign that Labour supp

The Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged yesterday at 3.75%, as falling oil prices eased some of the inflation risks created by the recent Middle East conflict. The Monetary Policy Committee voted 7–2 to hold rates, with two members favouring a small increase due to concerns that higher energy costs could still feed into wages and business pricing. Oil prices had surged when the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted earlier in the year, but they have since declined followin