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Asda’s chairman Allan Leighton has delivered a sharp warning to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, accusing her of “taxing everything” and urging the government to focus instead on investment to drive growth. Speaking as speculation grows that Reeves will need to raise an additional £50 billion in her Autumn Budget to balance the books, Leighton said the government’s fiscal approach was already hitting retailers, pushing up inflation and leaving consumers worse off. “There’s no doubt all of...

Hawkstone has scored major success at the 2025 World Beer and Cider Awards, with Hawkstone IPA and Hawkstone Hedgerow both named England Country Winners, cementing the brand’s reputation as one of the UK’s fastest-growing premium drinks makers. The latest wins build on last year’s triumph when Hawkstone Lager was crowned England’s Best Lager. This year’s medal haul spanned the full product range, underlining the brand’s depth and consistency. Hawkstone IPA and Hedgerow each won Gold...

Lotus has announced plans to cut up to 550 jobs in the UK, amounting to around 40 per cent of its British workforce, in a major restructuring aimed at securing the company’s long-term survival. The Norfolk-based sports carmaker, majority-owned by Chinese group Geely, said the cuts were “necessary to secure a sustainable future in today’s rapidly evolving automotive environment,” citing the impact of falling sales, the transition to electric vehicles and mounting global tariff pressures....

The UK’s creative industries received a record £2.4 billion in tax reliefs and expenditure credits in the 2023/24 financial year, highlighting both the sector’s resilience and its growing contribution to the economy. Figures from HMRC show a 10 per cent increase on the previous year, underlining the government’s recognition of the sector’s importance to growth, investment and jobs. High-end television productions were once again the single largest beneficiary, claiming £1.1 billion – almost half of...

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has sold luxury motorcycle jacket brand Belstaff to sportswear label Castore, in a further sign of the billionaire scaling back his Ineos empire outside its core chemicals business. The deal, announced on Thursday, will see Castore acquire the heritage fashion house for an undisclosed sum, while Ineos will take a minority stake in the fast-growing sportswear company, which supplies kit for England’s cricket and rugby teams. Ashley Reed, Belstaff’s chairman, described the...

Former England international John Barnes has spoken candidly about his long-running battle with HMRC, insisting he is working hard to repay his tax liabilities despite what he calls misleading reports in the press. The ex-Liverpool and Watford winger, who was the first £10,000-a-week footballer in the top flight, told All Things Business – The Podcast that he has been paying HMRC for the past eight years after suffering heavy losses from poorly advised investments. Since...