Editor's view: Budget tax hikes and consolidation

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly mulling a capital gains tax (CGT) hike on share sale profits and other assets, though second home sales may not come under the budgetary microscope. Indeed, Quilter's Rachel Griffin has cautioned that a CGT increase is no longer a matter of if, but ‘when'. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the news has not been met with aplomb in financial services and planning circles. This morning, Evelyn Partners CEO Paul Geddes warned of the damaging effect that a too-high CGT rise could have on smaller businesses even as Labour looks to gear the UK up for growth. ...