Barclays boss indicates bank taxes in budget ‘bearable’ and backs Healey – UK politics live
Why This Matters
Key context: <p>CEO of Barclays tells reporters: ‘I deeply respect the responsibility that the chancellor has and he has our full support and backing’</p><p>The <strong>Office for National Statistics</strong> has also published <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/genderpaygapintheuk/2026">a report on the gender pay gap</a>. It says:</p><p>The gender pay gap for full-time employees has continued to decline in the UK. It was 6.8% in April 2026, down from 7.2% in April 2025. This compares with 9.4% a decade ago and 16.4% 25 years ago.</p><p>Secondly, I asked <strong>Healey</strong> whether he sees the banks as making excessive profits, which would be the coherent justification for him to increase the surcharge on bank profits – as he is expected to do in the Budget next week.</p><p>He said: “You know the banks are the engine of investment in this country. The banks are doing well at the moment and that is good to see.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/oct/22/john-healey-chancellor-budget-red-tape-small-businsesses-jackdaw-oil-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.
CEO of Barclays tells reporters: ‘I deeply respect the responsibility that the chancellor has and he has our full support and backing’The Office for National Statistics has also published a report on the gender pay gap. It says:The gender pay gap for full-time employees has continued to decline in the UK. It was 6.8% in April 2026, down from 7.2% in April 2025. This compares with 9.4% a decade ago and 16.4% 25 years ago.Secondly, I asked Healey whether he sees the banks as making excessive profits, which would be the coherent justification for him to increase the surcharge on bank profits – as he is expected to do in the Budget next week.He said: “You know the banks are the engine of investment in this country. The banks are doing well at the moment and that is good to see. Continue reading...
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