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Prosecutions against professionals enabling tax evasion have dropped by over 75% in the past five years, leading to growing concerns about HMRC's commitment to combating illegal tax practices. Critics, including public officials and tax experts, argue that the lack of visible enforcement undermines the credibility of the UK tax system and hampers efforts to recover lost tax revenue.

Campaigners have urged UK police forces to be tougher on fraudsters after a significant increase in fraud reports and a major international scam operation were exposed. The government has also announced plans for an expanded fraud strategy as concerns grow over the ease with which scammers operate and the cross-border challenges in combating fraud.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to take a tougher stance against US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on British exports, which could trigger a global trade war and severely damage the UK economy. While Starmer has so far adopted a cautious approach, critics argue that this risks emboldening Trump and urge him to follow the lead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who took a public stand against US tariffs.

NatWest is celebrating a decade of its free NatWest Accelerator programme by launching the Accelerator Pitch competition, offering ambitious UK entrepreneurs a chance to win a share of £1 million in funding to fuel their business growth. Shortlisted entries will compete in regional finals, with the top businesses receiving substantial funding to scale their operations.

Britain faces a major economic hit as President Trump imposes new global trade tariffs, with Downing Street expecting duties of up to 20% to take effect on Wednesday. Despite negotiations, the US has declined to exempt the UK, prompting concerns about a potential surge in cheap foreign imports and a blow to GDP.