Scoop: The UK is spearheading a drive to expand intelligence-sharing on electoral interference between G7 allies+other European nations - dubbed a “democratic coalition” - as voters head to polls in 50+ countries this year
w/Jorge Valero Alberto Nardelli
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Exclusive J.L. Partners >>>

— the age at which British voters become more likely to choose the Conservative Party over Labour has soared from 39 at the last election to **70 years-old**

— working age voters have turned their backs on the Tories

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Exclusive: Jeremy Hunt tells Bloomberg that falling interest rates would bring a `feel-good factor' later this year - another hint that the election won't be in the summer

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

NEW: Bloomberg UK Saturday read

Can Rishi Sunak survive until the election?

* allies fear an organised attempt to remove him
* No10 fury at Kemi, Penny, Shapps
* all options except May 2 open for election
* tensions between PM’s top aides

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Scoop: UK signs-off legislation to establish an independent football regulator, after the Premier League failed to agree on a deal to share revenues with smaller clubs.

Bill likely to be introduced in Parliament as soon as this month - w/david hellier

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Scoop w/Alex Wickham: Rupert Murdoch's News UK and Daily Mail owner DMGT have held talks about a possible joint bid for the Telegraph. The plan would be for UAE-backed RedBird IMI to keep a smaller stake

NEW: Bloomberg UK Saturday read

— Sunak and Hunt looking at more tax cuts to combine with their long-term ambition to abolish national insurance

— second fiscal event planned this year, signalling no May election

— but Tory MPs despair at No10 strategy

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

NEW from David Goodman

— Citigroup say Hunt’s budget is “fiscally offside” by *£50 to £60 billion*

— they say productivity costings are overly optimistic and planned spending cuts “undeliverable”

— meaning tens of billions extra needed to plug gaps

bloomberg.com/news/live-blog…

NEW from Lucy White Joe Mayes

— Reeves accuses Hunt of Truss-style £46b unfunded tax cuts with idea to abolish NI

— which sees Hunt row back immediately on morning round, saying it won’t happen for a long time or could just be merged with income tax

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Non-doms, tax cuts and a new British ISA dominated a rowdy UK budget statement

@newsamorgan breaks down what it means for your money bloom.bg/43m7TFv

Budget scoops over the last few weeks from Joe Mayes and top Bloomberg UK team confirmed today >>

✅ oil and gas windfall tax extension
✅ 1st to reveal headroom squeezed
✅ fuel duty freeze and 5p cut extended
✅ pension investment push
✅ British ISA

Our 3.30pm Budget story with Joe Mayes >>

Hunt Cuts Personal Taxes as Tories Seek Election Year Lift

- but barely kept to fiscal rules
- tax burden still going up
- future public spending still looks unsustainable
- stealing clothes means q's for Lab

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

One hidden OBR nugget - the spending numbers for 2025 onwards may not have changed much but real spending per head will be flat or falling after this year - and note the fall since the last spending review.

Gut reaction from Tory MPs so far is an underwhelming budget with no rabbit

One reason why there was no surprise is Hunt wanted to do the 2p NI cut without causing market jitters

Headline announcements emerging in days before meant markets priced in

bloomberg.com/news/live-blog…

In budget game terms, we're now about here... there's still time to play👀bloomberg.com/features/2024-…

As we wait for Hunt this morning, step into the chancellor’s shoes and play Joe Mayes’ brilliant budget game as recommended by George Osborne Ed Balls on their podcast >>

bloomberg.com/features/2024-…

It's UK Budget day! And it's an election year! So expect the Chancellor's fiscal statement to be distinctly political with tax cuts front and centre.

Here's a preview, via Bloomberg TV

And you can read more from Joe Mayes & Alex Wickham: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Check out our v nice new Bloomberg UK homepage

With our budget day special live blog telling you everything you need to know >>

bloomberg.com/news/live-blog…

Exclusive:

Hunt set to cut national insurance by 2p tomorrow *with senior Conservatives signalling Sunak is then eyeing significant income tax cuts in the election campaign*

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Great Philip Aldrick Caroline Hepker piece on the bullish case for Britain for investors

— interviews with CEOs show optimism for the year ahead
— economy improving
— both party leaders pro-business and offering stability
— UK top investment destination after US

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…