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The UK budget deficit is set to raise to its highest since World War Two, Rishi Sunak has said

UK fiscal watchdog warns of impact of no-deal Brexit

Britain's independent fiscal watchdog, the Office of Budget Responsibility, has said a no-deal Brexit at the end of this year will cut economic growth and increase unemployment.

Business • 25 Nov 20

The UK economy has struggled to maintain its recovery from its coronavirus lockdown crash

UK economy grows by slower than expected 1.1% - ONS

Britain's economy, which has struggled to maintain its recovery from its coronavirus lockdown crash, grew by a slower than expected 1.1% in September from August, even before the latest restrictions on businesses, official data showed today.

Business • 02 Sep 21

British finance minister Rishi Sunak makes another turnaround on UK business supports

Sunak stumps up more cash for Covid-hit businesses

British finance minister Rishi Sunak was forced to offer billions of pounds more of financial help today to businesses grappling with a resurgent Covid-19 pandemic, which looks increasingly likely to derail the economic recovery.

Business • 22 Oct 20

UK public debt rose further above the £2 trillion mark to £2.060 trillion or 103.5% of GDP, its highest since 1960

UK borrowing exceeds forecasts, debt highest since 1960

The UK's government borrowing exceeded forecasts in September and over the first half of the financial year was more than six times higher than a year earlier, due to the huge cost of the coronavirus pandemic, official data showed today.

Business • 21 Oct 20

UK finance minister Rishi Sunak is looking at ways to boost state revenue

Sunak says that jobs, not tax rises, are the priority

Britain will prioritise trying to save jobs over tax rises while the Covid-19 pandemic batters the economy, though record borrowing and a £2 trillion debt pile cannot be sustained for ever, finance minister Rishi Sunak said today.

Business • 06 Oct 20

British finance minister Rishi Sunak has warned that he can't save every business or job

UK's pared-back job support scheme as Covid surges

British finance minister Rishi Sunak has today announced fresh plans to help the pandemic-ravaged economy with a new jobs support scheme to help keep people employed on shorter hours.

Business • 24 Sep 20

Stormont Economy minister Diane Dodds said it was 'early days' in the attempt to convince Rishi Sunak to continue to subsidise salaries beyond October

No reply from Sunak over NI request to extend furlough

The British Chancellor of the Exchequer has yet to a respond to a call from the Stormont Executive for an extension of the furlough scheme, a minister has said.

Ulster • 08 Sep 20

20% rate of VAT cut to 5% from next Wednesday until January 2021 for the UK hospitality sector

Sunak offers job bonuses, cuts taxes to head off crisis

The UK government will seek to head off an unemployment crisis by paying bonuses to employers to bring workers back to their jobs from the state's coronavirus emergency lay offs scheme, finance minister Rishi Sunak said.

Business • 08 Jul 20

British finance minister Rishi Sunak has extended the job retention scheme by a further four months until the end of October

UK extends Covid job retention scheme by four months

The UK government should extend a costly job support programme until the end of the year for retail and hospitality workers hit hardest by the coronavirus, a think tank said today.

Business • 12 May 20

The IHS Markit/CIPS UK construction purchasing managers' index showed a reading of 8.2 in April, down from 39.3 in March and the lowest since records began in 1997

UK construction at record low, as turnaround forecast

The UK construction sector suffered a record drop in activity during April as the coronavirus pandemic shut sites, data showed today.

Business • 06 May 20

UK banks and lenders are to offer a three-month mortgage holiday for people in difficulty due to the Covid-19 outbreak

UK unveils £330 billion lifeline for firms hit by virus

Britain said it would launch a £330 billion lifeline of loan guarantees and provide a further £20 billion in tax cuts, grants and other help for businesses facing the risk of collapse from the spread of coronavirus.

Business • 18 Mar 20

Rishi Sunak announced the measures this afternoon

Britain announces further business support

Britain said it would offer £330 billion pounds of loan guarantees, equal to 15% of its gross domestic product, and other measures to help struggling business as it ramped up its attempt to fight the economic hit from coronavirus.

Business • 17 Mar 20

The UK's new finance minister Rishi Sunak has promised to protect the economy from the threat of the coronavirus

UK pledges 'whatever it takes' to protect economy

New British finance minister Rishi Sunak announced a spending splurge to ward off the economic effects of coronavirus in his maiden budget today.

Business • 11 Mar 20

New UK finance minister Rishi Sunak has ordered an additional set of economic forecasts

UK finance minister orders new economic forecasts

British finance minister Rishi Sunak has ordered an additional set of economic forecasts to be produced by the country's independent budget forecaster.

Business • 27 Feb 20

Sajid Javid resigned on February 13 after Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanded he sack his team of advisers

Keep spending under control, pleads Javid

Former British finance minister Sajid Javid urged the UK government to stick to its fiscal rules in a personal statement to parliament to explain his sudden and unexpected exit from government.

Business • 26 Feb 20

Investors are pricing in looser financial conditions under Britain's new finance minister

Sterling keeps gains amid more spending expectations

Sterling remained above $1.30 today as investors priced in looser financial conditions under Britain's new finance minister.

Business • 17 Feb 20

Traders have the view that the new British finance minister will unveil a more expansionary budget next month

Pound consolidates gains after change of UK minister

Sterling held on to its recents gains today as traders stuck with the view that the new British finance minister would unveil a more expansionary budget next month.

Business • 14 Feb 20

Rishi Sunak takes control at a critical juncture for the UK economy

Britain's new fast-track finance minister

Five years ago Britain's new finance minister Rishi Sunak was not even a member of parliament, now he is running the world's fifth largest economy.

Business • 13 Feb 20

Rishi Sunak