‘Determined To Delivery Growth…’ Says UK PM Starmer; Meets BlackRock CEO

Keir Starmer Meets BlackRock CEO: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted BlackRock CEO Larry Fink at his residence in Downing Street, aiming to rebuild relations with business leaders following last month’s tax-heavy Budget .

Sharing images of the meeting, Starmer underlined the government’s intention to collaborate with global firms like BlackRock to "put more money in people’s pockets."  

“I'm determined to deliver growth, create wealth and put more money in people’s pockets. This can only be achieved by working in partnership with leading businesses, like @BlackRock, to capitalise on the UK’s position as a world-leading hub for investment,” Starmer wrote in a tweet on X.com.

Biggest Tax Increase In Three Decades

The move comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced the most significant tax increases in three decades during her first Budget. The measures, announced in October, primarily targeted businesses and high-income groups to fund substantial public service reforms.

Reeves also signalled increased borrowing to stimulate an economy strained by the 2007-09 financial crisis, Brexit, the pandemic, and rising energy costs.  

The government’s dual focus on fiscal consolidation and private sector collaboration signals its intent to stabilise the economy while fostering growth and investment.

UK’s Sanctions On Oligarchs

The UK has imposed sanctions on Isabel dos Santos, formerly Africa’s richest woman, exiled Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash, and Aivars Lembergs, one of Latvia’s wealthiest individuals. The Labour government’s move is part of an intensified campaign to combat money laundering and financial crimes facilitated through Britain’s financial system.  

Dos Santos, the daughter of Angola’s former president, has faced allegations of corruption, while Firtash is accused of embezzling funds from Ukraine’s gas sector. Lembergs, a long-time Latvian political figure, has been implicated in significant financial misconduct.  

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