I was an obnoxious child. This is the only possible explanation for how I ended up not merely owning but loving a Filofax when I was about 12 years old. It was the mid-1980s, they were all the rage and I was determined to ape the yuppies in the wine bars of the City by…

Low electric car sales at Ford and Vauxhall have sent the market share of Britain’s historically most popular motoring brands to multi-decade lows as manufacturers struggle to meet the demands of the statutory zero-emission vehicle mandate. This week Vertu Motors, Britain’s largest listed motor dealer, said it was struggling to access in-demand petrol or hybrid…

Mountain Warehouse has pledged to open another 50 stores next year while brushing off fears about the death of the British high street. The outdoor clothing chain has committed to an aggressive expansion of physical stores, both in Britain and overseas, amid a boom in demand for in-person shopping. It will open about 50 stores…

Before the end of the year, Ed Miliband is expected to announce the next phase of Britain’s nuclear power revival. The energy secretary has inherited decisions on two major programmes that could help bring forward a new nuclear age in the UK — Sizewell C in Suffolk and a fleet of mini nuclear plants around…

I have lived overseas for more than a decade and I visit the UK every couple of years. My only UK income is from a flat that I rent out which is managed by a letting agent. As my agent pays tax on my rental income directly to HM Revenue & Customs, I believe that…

Just Group, the retirement finance specialist, has snapped up a stake in a business providing services to help workers over the age of 50. Lyndsey Simpson founded 55/Redefined in 2021 to help businesses to get to grips with the challenges of an ageing population and to retain and support their existing employees. It also hosts…

A couple have won a three-year battle with the taxman over a £161,250 stamp duty bill after successfully arguing that their paddock was not residential land. Taher and Zhara Suterwalla bought a £3.6 million, seven-bedroom house with a swimming pool, paddock and tennis court near Henley-on-Thames in December 2020. When they paid stamp duty they…

It’s a sunny Monday afternoon and I’m sitting inside one of the world’s most exclusive private banks. In a cosy meeting room with steel-blue walls four plush red chairs are arranged around a wooden table. Diana Brightmore-Armour, the chief executive of C Hoare & Co, is opposite me. “Private banking is here to stay and…

Pensions are one of the most tax-efficient ways of saving during your lifetime — and the tax perks continue after your death. They are not included as part of your estate and in most cases can be passed on free of inheritance tax (IHT), but with a new government needing to find ways to raise…