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The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Trump's tariff tornado: inside the 18 July Guardian Weekly
How to describe Donald Trump's tariffs agenda, let alone explain the gameplan? When the US president held up his scorecard of percentage levies on 2 April, a date he dubbed 'liberation day', stock markets trembled and governments panicked. But then a promised date for penalties on imports to the US was postponed, not once but twice, while a deal or two was done, but not the 200 Trump had said would be signed ahead of the 9 July deadline. So last Wednesday letters began to go out with newly calculated levies now postponed to 1 August. As our economics editor, Heather Stewart, explains, enduring confusion is the only certainty when it comes to Trump's tariffs. While a threatened 30% is not the worst deal on offer, the EU – which thought neogotiations with Washington were on track – was, as Jennifer Rankin reports, momentarily blindsided but Brussels, like European markets, soon rallied. While the world may need to hold on to its hair in the face of Trump's tariff tornado for a while yet, it's very much, as Malaysia's prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, put it, 'the weather of our time'. As Trump continues to bluster, I hope some of my other selections from this week's issue provide shelter from the storm. Get the Guardian Weekly delivered to your home address Spotlight | A 'concentration camp' for PalestiniansFormer Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert explains to Emma Graham-Harrison his fears over plans for a so-called humanitarian city to contain the population of Gaza Environment | A clean river runs through itThe Emscher was once Europe's dirtiest river, little more than a sewer for Germany's Ruhr industrial heartland. But, as Ajit Niranjan reports, it is becoming a nature haven and leisure destination Feature | My fight to get justice for Jean Charles de MenezesYasmin Khan explains how a chance meeting at a vigil for the young Brazilian shot dead by police in the aftermath of London's 7/7 bombings changed her life Opinion | It's time for Labour to tax the rich Why doesn't the party of the workers dare admit that Britain's rampant inequality needs to be addressed through a proper redistributive policy, asks Andy Beckett Culture | An all-nighter at the Albert Hall Anna Lapwood explains why an organist's life tends towards the nocturnal and tells John Lewis how she intends to keep a Prom audience from nodding off for her 11pm-7am gig next month I'm a tad jealous of Oliver Wainwright's brief as the Guardian's roaming architecture and design critic and a fan of his writing. This interview with Ievgeniia Gubkina, author of a new architectural guidebook to Kharkhiv, conveys his abundant enthusiasm for the poetry of the built enviromment. Isobel Montgomery, deputy editor Joanne Briggs grew up in 1960s England with a 'dapper' scientist as a father. But he wasn't the man she thought he was. This is the gripping tale of a fantasist who faked his research until he was unmasked in the British press. It's also the memoir of a daughter trying to find out the truth about her mysterious father, asking whether this larger-than-life character was a spy who faked his own death. Anthony Naughton, assistant editor Audio | Ulaanbaatar: a warning from the coldest capital on Earth – podcast Video | 'Tourists go home': Inside the angry protests on Spain's holiday islands Gallery | 'Beautiful form isn't enough': National Ballet of Japan – picture essay We'd love to hear your thoughts on the magazine: for submissions to our letters page, please email For anything else, it's Facebook Instagram Get the Guardian Weekly magazine delivered to your home address
The Guardian
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Treasury minister says ‘headline' rate of income tax won't go up, in hint thresholds might be frozen in budget
Update: Date: 2025-07-14T08:31:38.000Z Title: Darren Jones Content: Good morning. This is the last full week the Commons is sitting before the summer recess starts (on Tuesday next week) and, although there is a fair amount coming up (see below), there is no big story dominating the news agenda. The national newspapers are all splashing on different items – which is normally a sign that it was a slow news day yesterday. The government wants to talk about its new £500m 'better futures fund'. And , chief secretary to the Treasury, has been in the broadcast studios this morning to promote it – as well as giving an interview to my colleague Heather Stewart. But, as is often the case, in search of stronger news, broadcasters have been trying to tease out details of what might be in the budget in the autumn. And they may have made a tiny bit of progress. At PMQs last week Keir Starmer said that he remained committed to the tax pledges that Labour made in its manifesto. That might sound straightforward, but it isn't, because there is some ambiguity as to what they mean. People thought Labour promised not to raise income tax, VAT or national insurance contribtions – which are levied on employers and employees. But in the budget last year Rachel Reeves did put up employer NICs and, when accused of breaking a manifesto promise, she highlighted the eight-word preamble to the pledge, which in retrospect could be read as a hint that employer NICs were not exempt. Labour will not increase taxes on working people, which is why we will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of Income Tax, or VAT. The person who wrote the manifesto clearly knew what was coming – but the clue was hidden so well that almost no one managed to decypher it. In an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain Jones said this. The thing I can tell you is that our manifesto commitment coming into this election was that we were not going to increase the headline rate of income tax or employee national insurance on working people in the pay slips that people get when they go to work or on VAT because we know that that disproportionately affects people on lower incomes because they spend more of their money on the day to day shop, essentially. In fact, the manifesto does not mention the 'headline' rate of income tax. But the fact that Jones sees this as relevant can be seen as yet another hint that Rachel Reeves is considering extending the freeze on income tax thresholds in the autumn. This is seen by economists as very likely, and was not ruled out by Starmer at PMQs last week. Ed Balls, the former Labour shadow chancellor who is now a broadcaster and podcaster, regularly argues on his Political Currency podcast that freezing tax thresholds would in practice be a breach of the manifesto, because it would amount to a tax increase for workinng people. Jones's comment can be seen as the rebuttal argument. In his interviews Jones also declined to rule out a wealth tax, as other ministers, have done. But he also suggested that people were 'getting a bit carried away' in interpreting what Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, said about tax yesterday. Alexander told Sky News: We made a commitment in our manifesto not to be putting up taxes on people on modest incomes, working people. The Telegraph has interpreted this as meaning that taxes will rise for middle-class workers. But, in his Good Morning Britain interview, Jones said Alexander was just referring to the manifesto promise. Asked what 'modest incomes' meant, he went on: Modest income means different things to different people. But it's not entirely relevant, because the thing that is relevant is our manifesto commitment not to increase national insurance or employee national or income tax in the payslips that people receive every month. Jack Maidment from the Telegraph argues that the mixed messaging is a bit of a mess. Treasury minister says Labour's 'working people' tax pledge refers to 'anyone that gets a payslip, basically'. Significantly broader than Transport Sec Heidi Alexander's definition yesterday of 'people on modest incomes'. What a mess, and not for the first time. Here is the agenda for the day. 10.30am: Sajid Javid, the former Tory health secretary, gives evidence to the Covid inquiry about the impact of the pandemic on the care sector. Morning: Rachel Reeves, chancellor, speaks to broadcasters on a visit in Wigan where she is promoting plans for a £500m 'beter futures fund'. 11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing. 2pm: Wes Streeting, health secretary, gives evidence to the health committee. 2.30pm: Angela Rayner, deputy PM and housing secretary, takes questions in the Commons. After 3.30pm: Ed Miliband, energy secretary, is expected to make a statement to MPs about the state of the climate report. Afternoon: Keir Starmer hosts Petr Fiala, prime minister of the Czech Republic, at Downing Street. 5pm: Pat McFadden, Cabinet Office minister, gives evidence to the joint national security strategy committee. And at some point today the Department for Business and Trade publishes a green paper on the Post Office. If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can't read all the messages BTL, but if you put 'Andrew' in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word. If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @ The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary. I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can't promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.
The Guardian
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
A chance for Labour to honour its pledge on international development
Heather Stewart is right (The spirit of the G8 'make poverty history' summit of 2005 seems long gone, 6 July). Twenty years later, we are in a completely different world, facing overlapping crises and a retreat from global responsibility. In just the first half of 2025 alone, USAID has been dismantled, and the UK, France, Germany and Canada have all scaled back their development budgets. Many lower-income countries are still reeling from crises that they did not cause, spending more on debt repayments than on healthcare or education. Although the UK aid budget is not likely to increase any time soon, the government still has a chance to honour its manifesto pledge 'to rebuild Britain's reputation on international development'. It must set a bold agenda by championing debt relief and reforms to the global economic system, including making the international tax system fairer, in order to scale up countries' public financing. The recent Financing for Development summit in Spain was a missed opportunity. With a concerted effort to build public support, the UK government must show that international solidarity is not a thing of the GreenhillCEO, Bond, the UK network for NGOs Regarding Simon Tisdall's article (The UN is our best defence against a third world war. As Trump wields the axe, who will fight to save it? 6 July), the UN is probably weaker than it has ever been, but it is needed as never before, as is internationalism more generally, expressed in dialogue, cooperation and the solidarity of financial aid. That our prime minister has 'slashed its aid budget by £6bn, to pay for nuclear bombs', and plans to build six new arms factories, boasting that the defence industry will become 'an engine for economic growth', shows how unlikely it is that the UK will contribute to the growth of internationalism and strengthening of the UN. War's ever-greater barbarity and destruction at the human level is at the same time a massive assault on nature, causing pollution and carbon emissions on a grand scale. Who will fight to strengthen and reform the UN, build global cooperation and create a future for the world's children? We must, all of us, in an international movement of the willing and the caring, before it really is too FrancisBath Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Watch out, hallucinating Humphrey's about in Whitehall
I doubt that government officials consulted their AI tool, Humphrey, on what it should be called (UK government rollout of Humphrey AI tool raises fears about reliance on big tech, 15 June). It could have advised that in the 1970s the name was used for a milk marketing campaign: 'Watch out, there's a Humphrey about.' That line will now have a whole new meaning. Having spent the last few weeks voting in the Lords to try, in vain, to achieve protections for the creative industries from AI abuse, that meaning might be prophetic. On a personal level, my husband is angry that his name is being stolen MillerLiberal Democrat, House of Lords Your report (The 'death of creativity'? AI job fears stalk advertising industry, 9 June) quotes the chief executive of a big ad agency saying 'AI will disintermediate a large number of jobs'. I asked an AI tool to put this into plain English. Ten minutes later, it's still thinking about it. Perhaps absurd management euphemisms is one area where the human brain can still cut through the crap more effectively than AI?Neil ColeHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire Heather Stewart says large language models, while destroying creative jobs and careers, 'remain prone to casually making things up' (Policymakers who think AI can help rescue flagging UK economy should take heed, 15 June). Could her article spur MPs into taking meaningful legislative action to protect their own positions?Jonathan J RossSheffield Re Heather Stewart's article, I'm not a specialist, but has anyone tried unplugging AI, going for a walk and then going back to check what's happened? If the door's locked, we've had GreenwoodBrighton To check one AI's 'hallucination' flaws, can we not use another AI to check what the first AI has produced, and possibly made up?Alan WorsleyHull As the English language still seems to lack a verb meaning 'to generate something via AI', might I suggest 'to bot'? This would provide a quick means of asking whether someone really did the work themselves or just botted DoraghSchwäbisch Gmünd, Germany Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Entrepreneur
13-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Heather Stewart on the Silent Saboteur: How Apathy Fuels the Mental Health Crisis
You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Unknown to many, another force usually slips under the radar. Heather Stewart, a seasoned real life coach and a wellness expert, believes that apathy is a driver that deepens despair and keeps people stuck in lives they no longer recognize or enjoy. Stewart has over two decades of experience in the wellness industry, serving as a yoga instructor, massage therapist, meditation facilitator, and personal trainer. Her work has helped people reconnect with themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. Before her journey in this field, Stewart spent 15 years in corporate finance as a chartered accountant. This diverse experience gives Stewart's insights weight. She's lived on both sides of the spectrum, anchored in stability yet longing for purpose, and now thriving with intention. Her clients benefit from this breadth of perspective. Stewart's experience has also made her realize that apathy is one of the most significant barriers to mental and emotional well-being. Beyond the lack of motivation, apathy is a creeping indifference that tells people they shouldn't want more, or worse, that they can't have it. "People settle," she says. "They believe their unhappiness is just how life is and give up before they even try." This defeatist mindset manifests early. Stewart explains that even young people say, "Well, that's just how the world works." She pushes back against that narrative. "It doesn't have to be that way," she adds. "It will stay that way if you don't do something different." The problem is that many don't know what "different" looks like. Stewart notes that either they can't see the possibilities or see them and believe they're out of reach. "Maybe you dreamed of becoming an Olympic sprinter, but now you're too old. That doesn't mean you can't chase something as exhilarating," she states. Stewart's idea isn't to chase the exact childhood fantasy but to rekindle the permission to dream and adapt it into an achievable reality. "People narrow their ideas of happiness," she says. "They don't see options. And worse, the culture around them reinforces the message to settle." The real life coach adds that gratitude is also misunderstood. Stewart teaches gratitude as a foundational tool but not an excuse for stagnation. "Gratitude is just the first step," she says. "Be grateful for what you have, yes. But don't use that gratitude to justify staying stuck. You're allowed to want more. You're allowed to pursue what makes you happy." In addition, Stewart is critical of how wellness culture reduces gratitude to a simplistic mantra, omitting the call to action and self-respect it should inspire. Her perspective on gratitude is to acknowledge the present while still reaching for the future. These philosophies are embedded in The Thriving Life Method, her signature coaching service. It's for people overwhelmed by the demands of modern life. The program offers multiple paths depending on where someone is in their journey. They could test the waters with the free Pathfinder tier or dive deep into a personalized transformation with the Visionary level. Essentially, Stewart provides structured, compassionate guidance. Her platform is also intentionally free from social media distractions, offering a private space for authentic growth. It contrasts with the numbing effects of doom-scrolling and curated perfection that dominate online culture. It's worth emphasizing that The Thriving Life Method isn't a quick fix. It's a lifestyle reorientation. Stewart helps her clients uncover what's holding them back (e.g., exhaustion, fear, or codependent tendencies). She understands that the first step can feel enormous, especially when someone's energy is depleted. "If you're drained all the time, even small actions feel impossible," she says. "You can't force someone to change. They have to be ready." Being the lighthouse and not the lifeboat is a philosophy that Stewart learned early in her coaching journey. "I can light the path, but I can't walk it for you," she says. Like a personal trainer who can teach you how to do a push-up but can't do the reps for you, Stewart provides tools, encouragement, and accountability. The real life coach advises people stuck in apathy: "Start imagining again. Go back to what you wanted as a kid. Who did you want to be? What lit you up? What have you given up on, not because it was impossible, but because you were told it was unrealistic?" She urges people to re-examine their choices with curiosity. Stewart herself wanted to be an artist and a veterinarian. She became an accountant instead because it was considered practical. Years later, she reclaimed those passions in her own way, through her career in wellness. Heather Stewart invites everyone to step out of autopilot. Her holistic approach integrates physical health, emotional resilience, and self-discovery to help people feel more aligned and less depleted. With emotional numbing and cultural indifference becoming more rampant, her message rings loud and clear. Apathy can be dangerous, as it keeps people disconnected from their power, purpose, and potential. However, change is possible. It starts with curiosity, grows through support, and is sustained by action.
