With the Labour Party now in power, its policy framework is expected to drive significant changes in the economy and labour market. The construction industry is preparing for a housebuilding effort on a scale not seen in decades. In other sectors, the focus is on how business-friendly the new government will be.
Lloyd’s of London’s recent report highlights the most favourable underwriting conditions in over a decade, signalling a significant upturn in the insurance market. Profits have surged from £3.9bn in the first half of 2023 to £4.9bn in the same period of 2024, reflecting robust market growth. This positive trend has been mirrored in London’s job market, with insurance vacancies increasing by 6.6% this year.
The UK pharmaceuticals sector is recovering from its post-pandemic slowdown, with a focus on addressing the backlog of drug approvals by the MHRA. As approvals accelerate, pharmaceutical manufacturing is ramping up, contributing to an 8.8% increase in engineering vacancies in 2024 compared to last year.
The countdown to the October 30 budget starts now. 3 months into power, and the priorities of this Government are becoming clear. The question is how to pay for these policies the Government want to implement. For context, the inflation busting public sector pay rises have already added 10BN to the budget, and there are likely to be more to follow. Without productivity linked reform, the danger is that this just results in inflationary pressure, at a time when the Government would be wanting interest rates to fall.
The UK stands out among G8 countries due to its political stability, with the government expected to remain in power for up to 10 years. Consequently, 2024 could mark a turning point for UK banking, thanks to recent deregulation reforms and stable interest rates.
