Business

I've been so desperate to find any positives from Rachel Reeves, that I resorted to asking ChatGPT to come up some and it said: supporting financial services and fintech, planning the Oxford‑Cambridge Growth Corridor, pushing through the Leeds Reforms to cut red tape, pledging a youth jobs guarantee and visiting the Gulf to promote the UK as a business-friendly destination. That’s the best AI could manage.In her debit column, drawn up by me, Reeves has crushed growth, pushed us to the brink of recession, driven up unemployment, destroyed high streets and pubs, and hit us with record levels of taxes while still borrowing £150 billion a year because she can’t add up. It's just one humiliation after another.Her supposed achievements are vague promises that may pay off years down the line, ...

Savings experts have named the account that people should consider putting their money into, and it's not provided by a high street banking chain. There are several well-known banks that hold savings for Brits, including the likes of Lloyds and NatWest. However, there are also savings accounts from brands you might have never heard of, including one that experts say currently has the best Annual Equivalent Rate (AER).Money experts at the consumer group Which have revealed the common money-saving habits that Brits should adopt in 2026, including looking in unexpected places for their next savings accounts. Experts often advise savers to make their money work harder by switching savings accounts to get the most interest back on what they put in. And according to a Hargreaves Lansdown surv...

The start of a new year often brings with it a lot of change and for pensioners, it means a boost to State Pension payments in 2026. State Pension rates go up every year from April and the amount that payments increase are determined by the triple lock. The triple lock sets the new rates based on whichever is the highest out of three factors. These are the consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation (measured for September in the previous year), average wage growth between May and July of the previous year, or 2.5%.In the Autumn Budget at the end of November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the government's commitment to the pension triple lock for the duration of this parliament, meaning pensioners are due to receive a 4.8% boost to payments in 2026.The 4.8% is in line with aver...

Premium Bonds savers have been urged by NS&I to do a quick check. The provider has now announced the prize winners for the January 2026 draw.The prize draw for Premium Bonds takes place at the start of each month, with each £1 Bond that goes into the draw having the same chance of winning a prize. Big cash prizes include for amounts such as £100,000 or £50,000, and you even have a chance of scooping a £1million jackpot prize.There are always two £1million prizes in each monthly draw. This month's jackpot winners were from Suffolk and Berkshire, with winning Bonds 570QM451332 and 377PG290829 respectively.As the first winners of the year have been announced, NS&I has called on customers to check if they have any winnings heading their way.'Quick and easy' checkAndrew Westhead, NS&...

2026 could be the year to boost your savings (Image: Shawbrook Bank)It’s time to embrace a fresh start in the new year. Whether you’re gearing up to try pickleball for the first time, perfecting your knitting skills, or simply determined to prioritise some much-needed self-care, it’s also the perfect opportunity to give your savings some attention. According to research from Shawbrook Bank 39% of UK savers keep their cash savings in a current account.A quarter (25%) admitted to sticking with their existing bank rather than shopping around. This could mean missing out on better interest rates and returns. As you look ahead to new opportunities this year, it’s worth taking a moment to reassess your savings strategy, as a simple switch could help boost your savings in 2026. Sally Conway, h...

Martin Lewis has clarified the rules around tax on savings. He explained some key principles for savers to remember in response to a question on his BBC podcast. The personal finance expert shared his thoughts after a fan said they were thinking about keeping any extra cash "under my mattress" rather than putting it in a savings account.They explained: "I fear that it will be taken or taxed if I do anything else. Do you think I'm being too cynical?" Mr Lewis said initially that he doesn't have a problem with people being cynical. Yet he said this should be "tempered with practicality".The savings expert went on to explain why keeping your cash stashed away at home may not be the best move. Mr Lewis said he would presume the person was not talking about their earnings which could be subj...

A woman from Swansea was left delighted after receiving a £150 grant and a free electric blanket. Describing the help as “one of life's wins”, Angharad Thomas, 45, said she first discovered the support by chance.Ms Thomas told Express.co.uk “It was very random, I had a news notification come up on my mobile phone about OVO Energy offering free electric blankets.” Looking into it right away, Ms Thomas said she was signposted to TSB’s Lightning Reach portal, which helps connect people to personalised support, such as grants, benefits, and general bill help. Using the portal, Ms Thomas was informed she would be eligible for the free electric blanket and a £150 grant towards her energy bill.Living on a tight budget and determined to stretch every penny, she applied immediately. Ms Thomas sa...

A financial expert has explained how people can avoid paying unnecessary tax on their savings - and explained a £20,000 limit. In a rundown Matthew Jenkin from Which? consumer group said people can get caught out by savings tax on interest.Speaking about what people need to watch out for in the new year he cautioned about paying ‘unnecessary tax’. He said: “There is a limit to how much interest you can earn on your money before you face a tax bill. Basic-rate taxpayers can currently earn up to £1,000 in interest tax-free, higher-rate taxpayers £500, and additional-rate taxpayers get no allowance.“So if you have a large sum to reinvest, opening a cash ISA can currently help you shield up to £20,000 a year from the claws of HMRC. From 2027, however, the amount you can hold in cash will fa...

Craig Rickman shared 6 useful tips (Image: Interactive Investor)Millions of people will start the New Year thinking about their finances, and pension experts say now is the ideal time to take simple steps that can make a big difference to retirement savings. With 2026 approaching, an expert has outlined six practical ways Brits can increase their pension wealth, reduce tax and avoid missing out on money they're entitled to.Craig Rickman, a personal finance expert at Interactive Investor, says reviewing what you already have is one of the most important financial tasks people can do. He explained that many savers don’t realise how far off track they may be until they check old paperwork, run the numbers and look at their State Pension record.Below are six steps he says could help people ...

Money expert Martin Lewis is trying to spread the word about a little-known council tax exemption which could be worth thousands of pounds if you have certain conditions. In the latest episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast, released via BBC Sounds, Apple Music and Spotify, the Money Saving Expert founder revealed that one of his listeners landed the huge payout for his dad from their local council after listening to a piece of Martin’s advice about Severe Mental Impairment Discount for council tax.In the episode, uploaded on December 22, one listener, Mike, wrote in to Martin with a success story based on his advice. He said: “My ears pricked up some months ago when you talked about potential discounts for mental incapacity on council tax bills. “My elderly father has vascular dementia an...