Exclusive: British Chambers of Commerce president calls for overhaul of business rates and greater powers for local leaders

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Andy Burnham has been urged by one of his most senior former advisers to tax internet sales more heavily than in-store purchases to help “level the playing field” for struggling high streets.

As the prime minister and his chancellor, John Healey, prepare for their first budget next week, Andy Haldane joined calls for action to stop more shops closing across the UK.

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© Composite: Guardian Design

© Composite: Guardian Design

© Composite: Guardian Design

Consumer prices rise by more than expected while government’s debt interest payments surge to record high for September

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Inflation surged to 3.5% last month while the government deficit was a worse-than-forecast £24.5bn, in a double dose of bad news for John Healey before next week’s budget.

The Office for National Statistics said annual inflation rose from 3.1% in August, overshooting City forecasts of a rise in the consumer prices index (CPI) to 3.4%, as a result of the surging cost of fuel.

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© Photograph: Bryn Colton/Getty Images

© Photograph: Bryn Colton/Getty Images

© Photograph: Bryn Colton/Getty Images

Concerns financial contracts known as derivatives were incorrectly logged, potentially boosting Barclays’ profits

The Bank of England is reportedly looking into Barclays’ handling of loans linked to the embattled private credit sector.

The Bank’s regulatory arm, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), started reviewing the matter this year after concerns were raised by a Barclays insider, according to the Financial Times.

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© Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

© Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

© Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Layers of people certify that gold is free from rights abuses and criminality. Nobody makes them leave their desks.

© Lynsey Addario for The New York Times

Layers of people certify that gold is free from rights abuses and criminality. Nobody makes them leave their desks.

© Lynsey Addario for The New York Times

Andrew Bailey among finance leaders to leave session in Bangkok when Russian finance minister addressed group

The Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, has taken part in a walkout of finance leaders who left an International Monetary Fund meeting in protest against Russian involvement.

Bailey joined counterparts from France, Germany and a number of Scandinavian and Baltic countries who left the session in Bangkok when the Russian finance minister, Anton Siluanov, addressed the group in Russian.

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© Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

© Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

© Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

Bumblebees, puffins, barn owls and hedgehogs will feature on the Bank of England's next series of banknotes, replacing Winston Churchill and other British historic figures after they were deemed "elitist and divisive".

The post Bees, Puffins and Owls to Replace Churchill on New Banknotes appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.