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Jan 14, 2025 | 
politico.eu | Esther Webber |Hannah Brenton |James FitzGerald |James Fitzgerald
LONDON — Keir Starmer and his top finance minister, Rachel Reeves, came to power last year promising to return stability to British politics. They’re finding out it’s not as easy as it looks.
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Jan 9, 2025 | 
politico.eu | Hannah Brenton |Dan Bloom
LONDON — A single post on X could torpedo British Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ carefully-choreographed trip to China. The U.K. finance minister is taking a gamble with her visit to Beijing this weekend, risking the ire of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump as she seeks cash and investment for the British economy. It should in theory have been an easy win for Labour.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
politico.eu | Hannah Brenton
U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves today reassured eurozone finance ministers that Britain won’t pick between the EU and the U.S. once Donald Trump becomes president. Reeves today became the first U.K. chancellor to attend a meeting of EU finance ministers since Brexit, as the Labour government seeks to improve relations with the bloc.
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Dec 8, 2024 | 
politico.eu | Hannah Brenton |Giovanna Faggionato |Gregorio Sorgi
LONDON / BRUSSELS ― Rarely has a Brit been so welcome in Brussels. Sure, they won’t be popping the champagne corks as she steps off the Eurostar train on Monday, but U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be greeted warmly by European Union finance ministers ready to talk to a British government trying hard to get back on friendly terms. The timing certainly helps.
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Dec 5, 2024 | 
politico.eu | Hannah Brenton
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged Thursday British households will feel the benefit in their own pockets of the government's effort to drive more growth into the economy. In a setpiece speech, the prime minister promised to raise living standards in every part of the U.K. by the end of the parliament. Starmer said that would mean "working people have more money in their pocket" through the government's drive to become the fastest-growing economy in the G7.
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Nov 28, 2024 | 
politico.eu | Hannah Brenton
LONDON— Former Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss’ mini-budget was “bonkers,” a senior member of her own party said today. Mark Garnier, shadow City minister under new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, described Truss’ budget, which roiled markets and forced her resignation as prime minister, as a “disaster” and “appalling.” “Let’s not beat about the bush: That was a bonkers budget,” Mark Garnier, shadow City minister, said at a POLITICO event in London.
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Nov 27, 2024 | 
politico.eu | Hannah Brenton
LONDON — Financial crisis? What financial crisis. Fifteen years after the 2008 crash roiled the global economy, bankers are back in vogue. Britain's new center-left government doesn’t just want to support the economic powerhouse that is the City of London — it's even asking the industry for help rewriting the guardrails put in place after the crisis.
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Nov 19, 2024 | 
politico.eu | Hannah Brenton |Carlo Martuscelli
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned the U.K. government Tuesday against picking sides in a possible trade war between the EU and the U.S.The head of the U.K. central bank said Britain should maintain an “active dialogue” with both the EU and the U.S., amid fears incoming President Donald Trump will force London to choose which relationship to prioritize with the threat of across-the-board duties of up to 20 percent on American imports.
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Nov 13, 2024 | 
politico.eu | Hannah Brenton
LONDON — If you’re a Black person driving in Britain, chances are you’re paying more for your car insurance than a white person in the lane next to you. According to consumer groups, insurance data models are baking in higher prices for people of color. The industry insists it does not collect data based on ethnicity — so can’t be singling people out directly based on race.
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Oct 13, 2024 | 
politico.eu | Hannah Brenton
Brace for the latest round of the never-ending culture wars — this time with bombs. Britain's financial powerhouse, the City of London, is pushing to label money flowing into weapons-makers as eco-friendly. It risks igniting another debate about “woke” culture at the top of finance — and the role of environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals in the global economy.
