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Latest analysis

UK Mortgage Approvals Fall to Lowest Level Since 2023 as Borrowing Costs Rise

Bank of England figures show house-purchase mortgage approvals fell to 53,443 in September, their lowest since December 2023, as new mortgage rates rose to 4.63%.

By Staff member • 29 October 2026 • 2 min read

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Neutral

UK Business Creations Fall 3.5% as Hospitality and Health Sectors Record Sharp Declines

ONS figures show 69,895 UK business creations in July–September 2026, down 3.5% year on year, with sharp falls in health and hospitality. Closures also declined.

Staff member • 29 Oct 2026 • 2 min read

Neutral

Think Tank Warns British Household Incomes Will Fall £1,050 Despite Chancellor's Budget

Resolution Foundation forecasts typical non-pensioner household incomes will fall £1,050 (3%) by 2028–29 despite the Autumn 2026 Budget.

Staff member • 29 Oct 2026 • 2 min read

Neutral

IFS Warns Chancellor Faces Multibillion-Pound Spending Challenge as Budget Leaves Public Services Exposed to Cuts

IFS warns inflation and defence ambitions will squeeze departmental budgets, with the 2027 Spending Review a crucial test of the Chancellor’s plans.

Staff member • 29 Oct 2026 • 2 min read

Labour

Government Withdraws Nine More Council Reorganisation Decisions as 15 Areas Face Fresh Uncertainty

Ministers have withdrawn nine further council reorganisation decisions, leaving 15 areas including Essex awaiting outcomes by early 2027.

Staff member • 29 Oct 2026 • 3 min read

Neutral

Water Companies Face Fresh Crackdown as Regulators Reveal 2,991 Pollution Incidents

Regulators recorded 2,991 water pollution incidents across England and Wales in 2025, including 84 serious incidents, as ministers consider tougher action against failing water firms.

Charlotte Mercer • 29 Oct 2026 • 3 min read

Labour

OBR Warns Labour's Employment Rights Act Will Likely Damage UK Economy as Business Costs Outweigh Productivity Gains

The OBR expects Labour’s Employment Rights Act to have a negative economic impact, but says the size is too uncertain to quantify in its forecast.

Staff member • 29 Oct 2026 • 3 min read

Labour

Government to Cut Departmental Capital Budgets by £3 Billion to Close Defence Funding Gap

The Treasury will reduce departmental capital budgets by a further £3 billion and use £1.7 billion from its reserve to close the outstanding Defence Investment Plan funding gap.

Staff member • 29 Oct 2026 • 3 min read

Labour

Britain Announces More Than £10 Billion in Additional Ukraine Support, Including £500 Million for Air Defences

The Treasury has announced more than £10 billion in additional support for Ukraine, including £500 million for air defences, World Bank-backed economic support and expanded export-finance capacity.

Staff member • 29 Oct 2026 • 3 min read

Labour

UK-Wide Vaping Crackdown Comes into Force as Government Bans Under-18 Sales, Giveaways and Vending Machines

New UK-wide rules ban under-18 sales of all vaping and nicotine products, promotional giveaways and customer-accessible vending machines from 29 October 2026.

Staff member • 29 Oct 2026 • 3 min read

Labour

Government Ends Two-Year Tax Deadline on Inherited Pension Payments Following Civil Service Pensions Crisis

The Government is removing the two-year tax deadline for qualifying pension death benefits after parliamentary concern over delays in Civil Service Pensions payments.

Staff member • 29 Oct 2026 • 3 min read

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UK Mortgage Approvals Fall to Lowest Level Since 2023 as Borrowing Costs Rise

Latest articles

UK Business Creations Fall 3.5% as Hospitality and Health Sectors Record Sharp Declines

Think Tank Warns British Household Incomes Will Fall £1,050 Despite Chancellor's Budget

IFS Warns Chancellor Faces Multibillion-Pound Spending Challenge as Budget Leaves Public Services Exposed to Cuts

Government Withdraws Nine More Council Reorganisation Decisions as 15 Areas Face Fresh Uncertainty

Water Companies Face Fresh Crackdown as Regulators Reveal 2,991 Pollution Incidents

OBR Warns Labour's Employment Rights Act Will Likely Damage UK Economy as Business Costs Outweigh Productivity Gains

Government to Cut Departmental Capital Budgets by £3 Billion to Close Defence Funding Gap

Britain Announces More Than £10 Billion in Additional Ukraine Support, Including £500 Million for Air Defences

UK-Wide Vaping Crackdown Comes into Force as Government Bans Under-18 Sales, Giveaways and Vending Machines

Government Ends Two-Year Tax Deadline on Inherited Pension Payments Following Civil Service Pensions Crisis

Explore topics

Follow the stories that matter to you.

Trending this week

What readers are following now.

Government Unveils £600 Million AI Package Including New Biosecurity Lab

Government Launches Emergency Preparedness Campaign Urging Households to Keep Three Days of Food and Water

Reform UK Sets Out £40 Billion Spending Cuts in Alternative Budget

Reform polling row widens as industry bodies investigate JL Partners

Chancellor Set to Announce More Than £1 Billion for Social Housing in Wednesday’s Budget