Ahead of the upcoming budget, journalists will fill many column inches speculating what the chancellor may or may not do, should or shouldn’t do. Instead of speculating, here’s what the government’s finances actually look like, and a helpful rule of thumb.
An investor group led by Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) and CCLA, representing £3.1 trillion AUM, has contacted the chairs of companies in the FTSE 100 to urge them to provide shareholders with a vote on their firms’ climate risk and resilience strategies at least once every three years. Only five FTSE 100 companies offered shareholders transition plan votes in 2025.
Trade policy risk, the government’s finances and rising defence spending have shaped financial markets this year. With the first half of the year behind us, now is a good time to reflect on the remainder of 2025. What long-term options does the Chancellor of the Exchequer have to stimulate investment in her Autumn Budget? And after its August interest rate cut, what role can the Bank of England play?
