‘It’s like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic’: Hospitality leaders say Budget ‘breathing space’ does not go far enough
Cut business rates, increased minimum wage, and an overnight tourism levy give mixed results to the struggling sector
Scotch whisky tariff cut in China worth £250 million
Thomas Edwards | 2nd February 2026 | International, Policy & Think Tanks, Politics
Britain has secured a significant win for Scotland’s iconic whisky industry, with China agreeing to cut tariffs on Scotch whisky from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.
Subscribe to The Mace
Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.
To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.
UK Budget 2026: Energy Bill Relief, North Sea Oil and Gas, and the Cost of Britain’s Green Transition
The government has promised to ease energy bills while investing in Britain's energy future. But can it support North Sea production, expand clean power and meet climate commitments
Found the Budget boring? Burnham may be thinking of an early election
After weeks of anticipation, Healey’s maiden budget looks to designed to re-assure the markets that Labour are fiscally responsible.
Is Britain’s welfare Bill out of control?
Ahead of the hotly anticipated Budget on Wednesday, Ella Beadman analyses what it could mean for welfare spending
What Can Britain Expect for Defence Spending in the Autumn Budget?
The government has pledged billions more for Britain's military. But can it finance those promises without squeezing other public services?
Healey’s first Budget: Economic pressures and potential tax rises
With just a week until the first Budget of the Burnham government is released, Mace analyses what the Chancellor’s biggest challenges are and what taxes might be brought
End of the gilded age for Caribbean passports?
Ahead of Commonwealth leaders gathering in Antigua, The Mace reports on how Brussels wants to stop the Caribbean “golden passport” trade
Racketeering, human rights abuse, and intimidation: Lucy Carrier-Pilkington investigates a cautionary tale about investment in Uzbekistan
"The rule of law is in jeopardy" according to leading human rights expert
Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal: A Turning Point in US Policy Towards Moscow?
The US says its Russian diesel deal is about bringing down fuel prices. But for Ukraine and America’s European allies, the move raises a bigger concern: whether Washington
Labour Wins in Holborn and St Pancras, but the Greens Remain a Political Challenge
Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali secured 12,292 votes, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who received 8,928