Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Next Labour government will be the most pro-business: Reeves

She said business groups and financial institutions would be “in the roomâ€� with ministers making key decisions as part of Labour's ­â€œmissionâ€� to make the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7.

Next Labour government will be the most pro-business: Reeves

Rachel Reeves has said that a future Labour government will tilt even more towards business interests than the Tony Blair era as she plans to raise £22 billion of private sector investment in green energy projects.

Reeves, the shadow chancellor, talked about the importance of involving business groups in key government decisions to boost the UK economy's growth, during an interview with The Times.


She said business groups and financial institutions would be “in the room” with ministers making key decisions as part of Labour’s ­“mission” to make the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7.

"If I become chancellor, the next Labour government is going to be the most pro-business government this country has ever seen," she said.

Reeves spoke with the newspaper before the inaugural meeting of the party’s national wealth fund task force. This initiative aims to attract private sector investment into green technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. Labour plans to allocate £7.3 billion of public funds to the scheme, with the goal of enticing an additional £22 billion from private sources.

The task force, including figures like Mark Carney, the former Bank of England governor, and CS Venkatakrishnan, the Barclays chief executive, will design the scheme before the next election.

Reeves stressed the government's commitment to providing state support to bolster investor confidence in costly and risky technologies like green hydrogen. "The role of the government in that sector might be to say, ‘You produce it and we will guarantee that it will be purchased’. We will be the backstop to that."

"Our No 1 mission is to grow the economy," she said. "We're going to grow the economy by understanding business."

Reeves said that with countries competing for investment, and limited scope for public sector funding, it was critical to support business. But this was also a philosophical decision.

“I recognise that is different from the Labour parties that went into the last few general elections. But this is the best way to grow the economy and lift living standards,” she said.

Regarding Labour's plans to enhance workers' rights, Reeves hinted at possible revisions to accommodate business concerns. The measures, which include offering employees rights from their first day in work and an end to all zero-hour contracts, have been criticised by some business groups for being inflexible and potentially counterproductive, The Times reported.

“We’ve been out of power for 14 years, we want to make a difference. But we want all of our policies to work and that means they’ve got to work for businesses and working people as well.

“Of course, we’ll consult. We’re doing that in opposition and you can see that with the amount of time we put into the business engagement," she said.

More For You

Police officers

Police officers stand guard between an anti fascist group and Tommy Robinson supporters during an anti-immigration rally organised by British anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, in London, Britain, September 13, 2025.

REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

UK defends France migrant returns deal after court blocks first removal

THE British government has defended its new migrant returns deal with France after a High Court ruling temporarily blocked the deportation of an Eritrean asylum seeker, marking an early legal setback to the scheme.

The 25-year-old man, who arrived in Britain on a small boat from France on August 12, was due to be placed on an Air France flight from Heathrow to Paris on Wednesday (17) morning. But on Tuesday (16), Judge Clive Sheldon granted an interim injunction, saying there was a “serious issue to be tried” over his claim to be a victim of trafficking.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian surgeon sentenced to six years for sexual assault

Dr Amal Bose. (Photo: Lancashire Police)

Asian surgeon sentenced to six years for sexual assault

AN ASIAN senior heart surgeon, who abused his position to sexually assault female members of staff, has been jailed for six years.

Dr Amal Bose, from Lancaster, was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault against five colleagues at Blackpool Victoria Hospital between 2017 and 2022. He was cleared of two other charges.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi & Trump

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.

Reuters

Trump greets Modi on 75th birthday, trade talks continue in Delhi

Highlights:

  • Both leaders reaffirm commitment to India-US partnership
  • Trade talks resume in New Delhi amid tariff tensions
  • India defends purchase of discounted Russian oil

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday called Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and greeted him ahead of his 75th birthday. The phone call sparked hopes of a reset in India-US ties, which had been under strain after Washington doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Forecasters say 30–40mm of rain is likely to fall widely

iStock

Met Office issues yellow weather warnings as heavy rain threatens flooding in 15 UK areas

Highlights:

  • Two yellow weather warnings issued for parts of Wales and the Midlands
  • Up to 70mm of rain expected, bringing risk of flooding, power cuts and travel delays
  • Flood alerts in place for rivers in Cumbria, Devon, Cornwall and Carmarthenshire
  • Residents advised to prepare emergency kits and stay updated with forecasts

Heavy rainfall set to cause disruption

The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings covering parts of Wales and the Midlands today, with forecasters warning of potential flooding, travel disruption and power cuts. Between 6am and 11am, persistent downpours are expected to sweep eastwards, bringing nearly a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours.

Areas under warning

South and southwest Wales are expected to be worst affected, with Ceredigion, Conwy, Gwynedd and Powys in the Midlands also on alert. In Wales, warnings apply to Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Donald Trump and Melania Trump

Donald Trump and Melania Trump exit Air Force One after arriving at London Stansted Airport for a state visit on September 16, 2025 in Stansted, Essex.

Getty Images

UK rolls out royal welcome as Trump begins second state visit

Highlights:

  • Trump begins his second state visit to the UK with a royal welcome at Windsor Castle
  • Prince William, Catherine, King Charles and Queen Camilla take part in ceremony
  • State banquet and trade talks with prime minister Keir Starmer scheduled
  • Protests and security operation mark visit amid political challenges

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump began his unprecedented second state visit to Britain on Wednesday with a lavish welcome from King Charles and the royal family at Windsor Castle.

Keep ReadingShow less