The chief executives of Aviva and Aberdeen have urged the chancellor, John Healey, to prevent leaks about possible tax changes ahead of his first budget on 28 October, warning that speculation before the last two budgets prompted savers to pull money out of their pensions.

Dame Amanda Blanc, chief executive of Aviva, the FTSE 100 insurance and savings group, said she had asked Healey directly not to “fly kites”, the practice of leaking potential policies to gauge the reaction of the public and markets, and to crack down on rumours about the measures he might announce.

Blanc said she raised the issue at a breakfast meeting last month between the chancellor and the bosses of some of the UK’s leading companies.

“I made the point to say please don’t do that, and he made the commitment that they weren’t going to do that, so I hope that that is the case,” she said. “What we don’t want is for customers to make decisions that in the long run they regret when policies are not changed.”

Jason Windsor, chief executive of Aberdeen Group, the FTSE 250 investments and savings company, said: “This new government needs to engage the industry properly to avoid unnecessary and damaging speculation to people’s pensions that has dogged the last two budgets.”

Both budgets under Rachel Reeves, Healey’s predecessor, were preceded by intense speculation, in particular rumours that the government would cut tax-free pension lump sum withdrawals. Under the current rules, savers can from the age of 55 draw down 25 per cent of their pensions tax free, up to a limit of £268,275.

On both occasions the Treasury left the allowance unchanged. Wealth management companies have said the atmosphere was nonetheless damaging because it led some clients to rush to take advantage of the lump sum rules before any change could take effect.

Blanc, who was speaking as Aviva posted bigger than expected first-half profits, said “it was a significant amount of money that was taken out” of retirement pots by customers concerned that Reeves would lower the cap on withdrawals. Aviva oversees £261 billion of assets in its wealth division.

Aberdeen manages about £579.4 billion across its fund management and wealth businesses.

Steven Levin, chief executive of Quilter, the wealth manager that oversees £154.5 billion, said: “Persistent speculation about changes to pension tax rules can create uncertainty and drive behaviour that is not always in savers’ best interests.”

Michael Summersgill, chief executive of AJ Bell, which runs a DIY wealth management platform, wrote to Healey last month asking him to make “an early, public commitment” to leave pension tax-free cash entitlements untouched. He said the chancellor should “act quickly” to avoid a repeat of the “damaging instability” that preceded the last two budgets. AJ Bell has previously reported that customers withdrew about £600 million from their pensions during speculation ahead of the most recent budget.

Blanc has also criticised pension tax measures floated before earlier budgets, including a proposed cap on salary sacrifice schemes.

A Treasury spokesman said: “As has always been the case, the chancellor will set out decisions at fiscal events, rather than routinely commenting on rumour, speculation or proposals.”

Jamie Young

Jamie Young is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, covering SME finance, employment law and Westminster policy since 2016. He has reported on every Budget and Autumn Statement since 2018, helped make sense of the ‘covid era’ and the bounce-back loan scheme from launch through the fraud investigations, and broke the magazine’s coverage of the 2024 late-payment reforms. He joined Business Matters straight from completing his BA in Administration from Exeter University and is NCTJ-qualified. Reach him at jyoung@cbmeg.co.uk

A new royal biography detailing the influence Kate Middleton‘s parents have had on how Prince William and the Princess of Wales raise their three children has reignited online speculation about whether Carole Middleton is seeking public credit for what has become known as “the Middleton Model” of parenting.

The claims stem from “William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story,” a book by royal editor Russell Myers published earlier this year. In it, Myers writes that Carole and Michael Middleton’s “constant presence” in William and Kate’s lives has played a significant role in shaping how the couple has raised Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. “William appreciated their involvement beyond measure, enjoying their company and the normalcy of the environment, whatever the circumstance,” Myers writes.

Myers describes the Middletons as having provided crucial hands-on support during the early years of the couple’s children, particularly while the family was based in Norfolk. “Michael and Carole enjoyed visiting the couple in Norfolk and would often stay for weekends, providing much-needed extra support for the young family,” Myers adds. According to the book, William once told an aide that having his in-laws nearby gave the family “more room to breathe,” underscoring how central the Middletons’ involvement has reportedly been to the couple’s approach to raising their children away from the more formal, staff-heavy upbringing William himself experienced.

The concept of a distinct “Middleton Model” of parenting is not new to royal commentary. Royal expert Duncan Larcombe first raised the idea in a 2023 interview with OK! magazine, describing the approach as centered on a relatively modest, close-knit family structure. “William has based his children’s upbringing on the Middleton model — three children, affluent, but hardworking parents and lots of love in the house,” Larcombe said at the time, according to Woman & Home. He added that Kate had counted her own parents among her closest friends by her early twenties, a dynamic he suggested William and Kate hope to eventually replicate with George, Charlotte and Louis.

With Myers’ newer book bringing renewed attention to the Middletons’ role in the family’s parenting approach, some royal watchers online have speculated that Carole Middleton may be actively encouraging this narrative’s circulation in the press. On the online forum Reddit, in a discussion thread devoted to royal coverage, one commenter expressed skepticism about the framing, writing that they found it difficult to reconcile media coverage of “the Middleton Model” as an aspirational parenting standard with broader criticism often directed at the family. Another commenter speculated more directly about Carole’s possible role in shaping the coverage, writing that they had “been wondering honestly if something is going on behind the scenes,” and suggesting the frequency of similar stories had increased in recent weeks.

It is important to note that these characterizations remain speculation from anonymous online commenters rather than claims made by Myers, palace officials, or any named source with direct knowledge of the Middleton family’s media strategy, if any such strategy exists at all. Neither Kensington Palace nor representatives for the Middleton family have commented publicly on the suggestion that Carole Middleton is seeking specific credit for popularizing the parenting approach associated with her family.

The Middletons’ broader closeness to William and Kate’s family has been documented in multiple accounts beyond Myers’ recent book. Kate has spoken publicly about her own upbringing in Bucklebury, Berkshire, describing it in warm terms during a 2020 appearance on Giovanna Fletcher’s “Happy Mum, Happy Baby” podcast, where she praised her parents’ dedication to her and her siblings, Pippa and James Middleton. Kate has also previously credited her parents with instilling values around family time, outdoor activity and a strong work ethic, themes that have repeatedly surfaced in royal commentary describing the family’s approach to raising George, Charlotte and Louis.

Since relocating to Berkshire in late 2022, William and Kate have lived within a shorter distance of Carole and Michael Middleton’s home in Bucklebury, a proximity that has been described in prior royal reporting as further deepening the grandparents’ day-to-day involvement in the children’s lives. That closeness has extended into public appearances as well, with Carole Middleton having been photographed accompanying George to public events on multiple occasions in recent years.

The renewed attention to Carole Middleton’s role has also unfolded against a broader backdrop of ongoing royal-focused media coverage comparing the Wales family’s approach to parenting and public life with that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, though Myers’ book itself focuses specifically on William and Kate’s family dynamics rather than drawing that comparison directly.

For now, the extent to which Carole Middleton herself has played any active role in shaping recent media coverage of “the Middleton Model” remains unconfirmed and rooted primarily in online speculation rather than documented reporting. What is established, according to Myers’ book and Kate’s own public comments over the years, is that her parents have remained closely and consistently involved in their grandchildren’s upbringing, a dynamic that has continued to draw public interest as George, Charlotte and Louis grow older within the public eye.

The Government has launched a consultation on the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, opening a review of the annual electric vehicle sales targets set for manufacturers ahead of the 2030 phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars. The consultation, announced today, runs until 23 October.

Vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, charge point operators, dealers, consumers and communities are being asked for their views on the pathway to ending sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, and to all new cars and vans being zero emission by 2035. The consultation has been launched jointly by the UK and Devolved Governments.

The review comes as EV demand grows. According to the Department for Transport, July recorded the strongest new car market since 2019, more than one in four new cars sold are now electric, and EV sales were up 45 per cent on July last year. Over two million electric vehicles are now registered on UK roads.

The Government said its Electric Car Grant, which offers up to £3,750 off the cost of a new EV, has helped over 160,000 drivers buy an EV since it launched last July. It said drivers who make the switch can save up to £1,400 a year on running costs.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “The UK EV market is strong – sales are up, British manufacturers and charge point operators are investing billions, alongside our backing of £7.5bn, including our Electric Car Grant that has helped over 160,000 people make the switch.

“It’s right we keep targets under review to ensure they’re practical and back British industry. The end goal hasn’t changed – but we need to take business with us on the journey, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today, by making sure industry has the chance to shape how we get there.”

According to the Government, manufacturers are currently on track to meet their 2025 targets and have built-in flexibilities to help them do so. It said the review is being carried out in the context of global economic conditions including supply chain disruption and tariff and trade uncertainty, and delivers a long-standing commitment to review the Mandate by 2027.

The consultation asks whether the existing annual targets for manufacturers remain appropriate. The Government is investing £7.5 billion in the transition, including £4 billion for DRIVE35 projects and £3.5 billion for van, truck and car grants, the Electric Car Grant and EV charging infrastructure.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “The UK’s automotive sector is vital to our economy and future growth, and we’re determined to keep it that way as we get on with reindustrialising Britain to deliver good growth in every postcode.

“This consultation is about listening to industry, examining the evidence and making sure the Mandate continues supporting investment, innovation and competitiveness, so Britain’s car sector can thrive.”

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “The automotive industry is fully committed to a zero-emission future, investing billions in new technologies, products and incentives. However, with the ZEV Mandate conceived under vastly different conditions, this welcome review is a timely opportunity to adjust the transition so it works for all. That means a commercially sustainable transition which supports UK competitiveness, investment and jobs whilst delivering greater choice and affordability for motorists – the sooner, the better.”

Others warned against loosening the targets. Gurjeet Grewal, chief executive of Octopus Electric Vehicles, said: “The ZEV mandate is working – giving manufacturers confidence to invest and drivers confidence to switch. Weakening it now would send exactly the wrong signal, just as EVs are becoming some of the best-value cars on the road.

“Carbon Brief estimates weaker targets could cost consumers £3bn a year in expensive petrol by 2030. We should be accelerating the transition, not creating another policy wobble that leaves drivers, businesses and the UK economy paying the price.”

Alongside the review, the Government is investing £600 million to roll out more charge points, building on the 120,000 already available on the public network and over a million in homes and workplaces. It said grants of up to £500 are available to landlords, flat owners and renters towards the cost of installing a home charger.

Paul Jones

Harvard alumni and former New York Times journalist. Editor of Business Matters for over 15 years, the UKs largest business magazine. I am also head of Capital Business Media’s automotive division working for clients such as Red Bull Racing, Honda, Aston Martin and Infiniti.

The Food and Drug Administration has upgraded a recall of nearly 19.1 million eggs to its most serious risk category as federal health officials continue investigating a multistate salmonella outbreak that has sickened nearly 100 people across 17 states.

The agency classified the recall from Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. as a Class I recall, the FDA’s highest designation, meaning there is a reasonable probability that exposure to the affected product could cause serious health consequences or death. Midwest Poultry Services originally announced the voluntary recall on July 22, covering 1,589,577 dozen eggs, or roughly 19.1 million individual eggs, due to potential contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis.

The recall covers white shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs produced at two of the company’s farms in Texas. The eggs were produced and distributed between June 6 and July 3, 2026, and carry sell-by or best-by dates ranging from July 20 through August 17, 2026, meaning some affected cartons may still be sitting in consumers’ refrigerators.

Recalled eggs were sold under several brand names, including Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Country Morning and Cal-Maine Sunups. According to the FDA, the eggs were distributed to retail and foodservice customers across Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, with retail availability specifically at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana, Brookshire Grocery stores across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi, and other smaller retail outlets.

Consumers can identify recalled cartons by checking for the identifying codes P-1950 or 0840962, along with a Julian date between 157 and 184, printed on the side of the carton in date-coding ink. The eggs were sold in a range of bulk and retail carton sizes, including packages of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 and 60 eggs.

The recall is tied to an ongoing salmonella investigation that has sickened 98 people across 17 states, including 26 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported. According to the FDA, most people interviewed as part of the investigation reported having eaten eggs before becoming ill. Samples collected at Midwest Poultry Services’ farms also tested positive for salmonella, and genetic testing found that some of those samples matched the strain responsible for the broader outbreak.

“Laboratory, epidemiological, and traceback data from this investigation have determined that shell eggs recalled by Midwest Poultry Services, L.P are a likely source of illnesses in this outbreak,” the FDA said in its investigation update. The agency added that the recalled eggs do not account for every illness identified in the outbreak, noting that additional investigation is ongoing to determine whether other sources may also be contributing to the case count.

Midwest Poultry Services said it identified the potential contamination issue through its own proactive environmental monitoring practices and a subsequent root cause analysis. In a statement, the company described its commitment to food safety as central to its operations. “At Midwest Poultry Services, a family-owned and led business, we believe in the power of safe, nutritious eggs to make a real difference in people’s lives,” the company said, adding that safety practices are “rooted in our values and built into how we operate on every farm, every day.” The company said that once it learned of the possible issue, it began diverting eggs to a breaking plant, where they would be pasteurized to eliminate any foodborne pathogens, and that it has ceased distributing fresh eggs from the two affected farms.

Salmonella infections typically cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, with symptoms generally appearing between six hours and six days after exposure and lasting anywhere from four to seven days in most healthy individuals. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a significantly higher risk of severe illness. In rare cases, salmonella infection can spread beyond the intestinal tract into the bloodstream, potentially leading to more serious complications, including infected aneurysms, endocarditis and arthritis.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled eggs are advised not to eat them. Instead, the FDA and Midwest Poultry Services are urging affected customers to return the eggs to their original place of purchase for a full refund, and to thoroughly clean any surfaces, containers or utensils that may have come into contact with the recalled product to prevent potential cross-contamination.

The Class I designation places this recall among the most serious food safety actions the FDA issues, a category reserved for situations where the agency has determined a reasonable probability exists that continued exposure to the product could result in serious injury or death, rather than more limited or temporary health effects.

With the outbreak investigation still active and the FDA continuing to examine whether additional sources beyond Midwest Poultry Services may be contributing to the case count, health officials are urging consumers across the affected states to check their egg cartons carefully against the listed plant codes and Julian dates, particularly given how many of the recalled cartons remain within their printed sell-by or best-by window well into mid-August.