In her scene-setter speech for the upcoming budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out the challenge facing the government, signalling that further tax rises cannot be ruled out as public finances come under pressure. The British Chambers of Commerce issued a stark assessment for business leaders, saying a fifth of firms expect turnover to fall and a quarter have already scaled back investment plans ahead of the November budget. Recent corporate commentary underscored discomfort among UK firms. Michael O’Leary of Ryanair described the economy as “doomed” under the current government, pushing for tax cuts as a route to growth after the airline posted a 42 per cent rise in first-half profits. On the business front, the British legal-services sector has recorded growth in exports to Canada, reaching £191 million in 2024, as government ministers promote UK legal expertise abroad while the domestic investment climate remains fraught. With business groups warning that the upcoming Budget must ...