Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And if you want a bit more detail on one of the stories, you can read our short comment piece below:

Donald Trump's tariff tirades and trade spats with China are making global business more difficult - no doubt about that. Half of April’s UK profit warnings cited fallout from the trade war.

But let’s be honest: blaming America’s unpredictability is becoming a little too convenient for explaining why British firms, and more generally the British economy, are underperforming.

Today’s consumer confidence figures are the worst since 2022. Inflation might be easing on paper, but the cost-of-living crisis is still biting. Travel inflation alone is above 30 per cent, foreign holidays are slipping out of reach for many families. Food and energy bills are much higher than they used to be. 

Meanwhile, the Labour government has already lost the confidence it was handed. Its economic plan is incoherent at best, anti-business at worst. Last week’s local election bruising wasn’t just a warning - it was a verdict. People are already fed up with drift and decay.

Yes, choppy global conditions don’t help. But Britain’s economic stagnation wasn’t made in Washington. It’s time to stop hiding behind foreign headlines and start taking responsibility at home.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And if you want more, you read our comment piece on Trump's propose film tariff below.

From big-budget blockbusters to indie dramas, most productions today are stitched together across multiple countries.

Casts and crews come from around the world.

Scenes are filmed in diverse locations depending on landscapes, tax incentives or studio capacity. It's my understanding that even post-production can be outsourced internationally.

In short, a film is rarely a product of one nation - it's a collaboration.

That’s what makes President Donald Trump’s proposed 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made movies so difficult to untangle.

Practically speaking, it’s hard to define what counts as a “foreign” film when even US-backed productions shoot overseas or rely on international partners.

The industry simply doesn’t follow neat national lines anymore.

Still, Trump’s broader concern shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand. Since the early 20th century, film has always carried power beyond entertainment - shaping perceptions, spreading ideas and reflecting national values.

As such, it's not unreasonable to acknowledge that countries competing for influence may also use film as a strategic tool.

That, in part, explains why nations around the world are investing heavily in their own movie industries.

Whether tariffs are the right response is another question entirely.

But Trump’s move highlights a deeper issue: in a globalised creative economy, protecting domestic culture while remaining internationally competitive is a challenge that’s only getting harder.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And if you want our take on what Reform UK’s rise could mean for the economy, check out our full comment piece below:

Reform UK’s solid showing in the local elections, and its narrow by-election win in Runcorn and Helsby, marks a continuation of a trend many had predicted: growing public support for the party as disillusionment with the political status quo deepens.

Assume, for a moment, that Reform can sustain this momentum and begin shaping policy in a meaningful way. What might that mean for the UK economy?

While the outcome is impossible to predict, we can make a few informed guesses.

If Reform continues to grow in influence, it could destabilise the long-standing two-party model. Some voters may welcome that shift, but markets tend to view political fragmentation with caution. Greater uncertainty, especially around general elections and legislative priorities, could lead to increased volatility.

The party’s platform includes tougher immigration controls and a focus on deregulation. If mainstream parties adopt these positions to stem losses, it could impact the labour market, particularly in sectors like health, hospitality, logistics and agriculture, which rely heavily on overseas workers. Wage inflation could follow, even as some businesses benefit from looser red tape.

Reform’s rise could also pull the Conservatives further toward populist economic policies, including lower taxation, trade protectionism and reduced commitment to net zero. That would have implications for investment, especially in sectors aligned with green growth, ESG goals or EU-facing trade.

Nigel Farage remains a polarising figure internationally. For some investors, a stronger Reform presence might trigger caution, delaying decisions until there’s clarity around policy direction on regulation, trade and climate commitments.

Then there's the broader political impact: if the main parties feel pressure from Reform, they may shy away from bold economic reforms, particularly those involving tax, green investment, or public service restructuring, for fear of alienating voters.

Reform’s breakthrough in Runcorn and Helsby may also trigger internal unease within Labour ranks, particularly as it follows a broader pattern of frustration among voters in traditionally safe seats. While one result doesn’t undo Labour’s national lead, it could prompt questions about Sir Keir Starmer’s ability to connect with working-class and disaffected voters - the very groups Reform is targeting. If leadership doubts begin to simmer, Labour risks losing focus on its policy agenda, including key proposals affecting business confidence, investment and economic reform. 

Of course, local and by-election results often serve as protest votes. But if Reform continues to gain ground, its worldview could begin to reshape, or even unravel, decades of relative economic consensus.

Get daily business news from your region by subscribing to Insider’s free newsletters: www.insidermedia.com/newsletters/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.