The UK Chancellor’s messaging at Davos recalled former Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s efforts to extol the recovery of the Irish economy while in the Swiss Alps

When Santander boss Ana Botin met Rachel Reeves at the annual Davos jamboree last week, the atmosphere may have been frostier than the ski slopes outside...

UNDER-pressure Rachel Reeves was given a glimmer of hope as inflation fell — raising interest rate cut hopes. The Chancellor saw inflation sink 0.1 per cent to 2.5 per cent in December, the drop

Companies are cutting jobs at the fastest pace since the global financial crisis, barring the pandemic, after Rachel Reeves announced £40bn of tax rises in the Budget, according to a closely watched survey.

“Rachel Reeves is thinking the right way but she’s in a difficult position,” said a senior UK bank executive in Davos . “Labour in the UK have made a lot of good decisions but it is very hard for them and the [bond market] challenges of last week reinforce that issue.”

Record concerns about new tax burdens are one of the main drivers behind the drop in confidence among businesses.

The disappointing retail data adds to the dim economic picture in the U.K. and to the challenges facing Finance Minister Rachel Reeves.

British finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Monday she would meet representatives from key financial services sectors, such as banking and insurance, over the coming months to formulate a new growth and competitiveness strategy.

The rate of inflation unexpectedly fell slightly to 2.5% in December in a surprise boost to embattled Rachel Reeves ... remains stubbornly above the Bank of England’s target of 2%.

Deputy governor Sam Woods told Keir Starmer that delivering economic growth and 'encouraging responsible risk-taking', was not its main focus.

A surprise dip in UK inflation last month has provided some reprieve for Rachel Reeves, as financial markets calmed following a recent period of volatility.

Economists believe that the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy ... The figures come after a difficult past couple of weeks for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, after government borrowing costs surged ...