Welcome to the Money blog, Sky News’ personal finance and consumer hub. Today: an Omaze house is at the centre of a planning row; a priest reveals what her job is really like; Amazon responds to a watchdog investigation; and we run through all the freebies companies offer on your birthday.
Monday 23 June 2025 18:30, UK
Plans to cut energy costs for thousands of businesses have been announced as part of the government’s long-awaited industrial strategy.
The announcement confirms Sky News reporting that the plan proposes making energy prices more competitive.
Firms have said high prices have hindered growth and made them less competitive.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News the issue of high electricity costs was “one of the biggest things business has asked of the new government”…
Nigel Farage has announced a new tax policy that would allow wealthy foreigners to pay a £250,000 fee to move to the UK and live here exempt from all tax on their foreign assets – but it could cost the UK billions, according to experts.
Speaking this morning, Farage warned “many talented people are leaving” the UK – and “we want, as a party, as many entrepreneurs, as many risk takers, as many job creators, as many people paying lots of tax, and as many people to invest in huge sums of money”.
This, he said, “is why today we’re coming up with this idea of the Britannia Card”.
Under this plan, wealthy foreigners and returning British citizens would be granted a 10-year residence permit and tax benefits in exchange for a one-time fee of £250,000.
All the fees received would be distributed “Robin Hood”-style to 2.5 million of the lowest-paid workers, giving them approximately an extra £600 a year (based on Reform predictions of 6,000 people buying into the scheme).
But one think tank has warned it could lead to a £34bn shortfall in government revenue.
Similar fees have been introduced before
Similar schemes were introduced under previous governments to try and tackle the issue of “non-doms”.
People born abroad but living in the UK, and who plan to return abroad, are “non-doms” – it means they live in the UK but are not legally domiciled here. In a tax sense, it meant they pay tax on UK income and assets, but had previously been exempt from tax on foreign income and assets (unless they brought them into the country).
2008: A £30,000 annual fee was introduced for non-doms who had lived seven years in the UK.
2012: The fee was raised to £50,000 for people who had lived here for 12 of the previous 14 years.
2015: A higher band was introduced, of £90,000, once people had lived here for 17 of the previous 20 years.
2017: Major reforms meant non-doms were automatically UK domiciled after living here for 15 of the previous 20 years.
2024: Conservatives proposed a four-year tax exemption for new residents, after which they would become subject to income and capital gains tax as normal. The non-dom regime was abolished in the 2024 autumn budget, with effect from 6 April 2025.
All of this has caused a number of very wealthy non-doms to leave the UK.
And for many, says Dan Neidle from the Tax Policy Associates, they will be unlikely to return under Reform’s new plans.
“No parliament can bind its successors, so unless billionaires believe Reform will have a majority for two or more terms, they are very unlikely to move to the UK in the expectation the ‘Britannia card’ will survive long-term,” he wrote on X.
“High-net-worth individuals crave tax stability and predictability when making long-term decisions about their residence. So we expect few would be attracted to a Britannia card.”
It also may not be paid by as many people as Reform expects.
“Only 2,400 people paid the £30k and £50k charges in 202,” Neidle says. “A £250k charge will be attractive to a smaller number of people.”
How it could cost the UK billions
Reform wants to go back to a pre-2017 position, which would mean a one-off payment could effectively retain the benefit of being a non-dom and not pay tax.
But Tax Policy Associates has raised a number of problems with the plan.
While it will attract the very wealthy who can afford such a fee, it will deter highly paid professionals – doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs – from coming to the UK.
“The Reform UK proposal makes new arrivals fully taxable immediately – that makes the UK look uncompetitive compared to many other potential destinations,” the organisation says.
“The Reform UK proposal doesn’t give any grace at all to new arrivals, unless they pay £250,000 – and that will only make sense for the very wealthy.”
The proposal will also give a windfall to a relatively small number of wealthy people who were already planning to stay here and pay UK tax.
That tax now won’t be received because the money will be automatically redistributed to lower-income workers.
“The £33.9bn reflects tax raised from a small number of very wealthy people who would opt to buy a Britannia card and so pay no tax – it’s therefore revenue immediately lost by Reform UK’s proposal,” Tax Policy Associates says.
Drivers could soon be charged £5 for entering certain parts of Oxford city centre.
It would be the first time a congestion charge on a UK road has been announced in more than two decades. 
Oxfordshire City Council has claimed the newly announced plan aims to reduce traffic, make bus journeys faster and improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, as well as cut pollution. 
London and Durham – the only other parts of the UK with congestion charges – introduced similar schemes in the early 2000s.
But Oxford has said this plan is only temporary and will be in place for two years. 
It said “urgent action is needed” to reduce delays to buses, partly caused by the temporary closure of Botley Road since April 2023 because of a Network Rail project to expand the city’s railway station.
But Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said residents needed assurances that the scheme would end within two years, as there had been “too many times” when “supposedly temporary” charges were kept because they became “too lucrative”.
A consultation on the plans will run for six weeks. 
You probably know that prices vary significantly between branded and unbranded medicines such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and hay fever tablets. 
Compare Panadol Extra with Tesco’s own-brand paracetamol: a 16-pack of the former costs £3.50, while the supermarket equivalent is more than 75% cheaper at 85p.
Here are some examples of the varying costs we found…
Is it worth spending the extra, or can you make a saving here?
The key thing to look at is the active ingredients, pharmacist and health expert Thorrun Govind tells Money. Medicines with the same amount will work in the same way, no matter the brand.
In this case, both tablets contain 500mg of paracetamol, meaning the Tesco version will work just as well.
“Often the increased price can be due to marketing and packaging rather than any difference in effectiveness,” Govind says. “For common medicines like paracetamol or ibuprofen, buying own brand is likely to be just as effective.”
The same applies to hay fever tablets. The active ingredient you’re looking for is antihistamine, likely to be cetirizine, loratadine or fexofenadine.
Buying own-brand can save you more than £5 a packet. At Superdrug, 30 Clarityn tablets with 10mg of loratadine cost £10.99, while the shop’s equivalent is £5.69.
Andrew Lane, board director of the National Pharmacy Association, says: “Brands are often trusted not just through the marketing but they do work as many of my patients testify. 
“Many say they’ve tried the generic but ‘it tastes different’ or ‘doesn’t work as well’ despite the active ingredient being the same.” 
You should only buy medicines from legitimate pharmacies and shops as they must adhere to certain standards and inspections.
If you’re unsure, Govind says, it’s best to ask your local pharmacy team for help.
“They are best placed to offer a range of treatments at different price points but more importantly to ensure that medication is suitable for you as an individual.”
So next time you’re loading up on medicine cabinet essentials, check the back of the packets first.
Subscribers to our new Money newsletter got a first look at this tip in Friday’s edition. Sign up below to join our Money community…
The winner of a £6m home is still waiting to receive her prize due to an unresolved planning dispute.
Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, a former Miss Wales finalist, was overjoyed when she found out she had won the Omaze charity draw in March.
Omaze is a for-profit fundraising company that partners with charities in fundraising events, offering multimillion-pound properties (plus £250,000 in cash to help with running costs) as its main prize. 
The property in Blakeney, Norfolk, was part of a raffle raising funds for the BBC’s Comic Relief in March. 
“This is life-changing for us,” Curtis-Cresswell said at the time. 
But the house is the subject of an investigation by North Norfolk District Council after an anonymous member of the public raised concerns that it had not been built to approved designs. A tennis court and swimming pool built at the property did not appear to have permission. 
An Omaze spokesperson said the organisation was continuing to work with the council to resolve the issues.
“Omaze has submitted a pre-application to the council and is submitting a retrospective planning application,” they said. 
“Omaze reiterates that it guarantees no house winner would ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue. Omaze further guarantees that all house prizes are transferred to winners with good and marketable title.”
The prize draw raised more than £4m for Comic Relief. 
Housing raffles have taken the UK by storm – but how likely are you to win?
In an increasingly grim housing market, the chance to own a once-in-a-lifetime home for the price of a £5 ticket seems too good to be true. 
And that is probably because it is.
But in a cost of living crisis, it is the chance to “escape from reality” that drives people to continue gambling on a win, one psychology expert previously told Sky News…
By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
Stock markets are relatively unscathed by the US’s strikes on Iran.
In the UK, the benchmark FTSE 100 index is just 0.01% down.
The oil and gas giants that make up the list of most valuable London Stock Exchange-listed companies are benefiting from higher oil prices.
Shell and BP were the second and third biggest FTSE 100 risers after the open. 
Similarly, there are slight falls across Europe. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index shed 0.11%.
It was a mixed bag as Asian stock markets closed, with the major indexes in Korea, Japan and Singapore having shed less than 0.5% while Chinese indexes saw rises.
Sterling has lost value, with one pound sliding to $1.338, down from $1.36 last week. Against the euro, the pound has dropped to buying €1.16, not far off a two-month low.
River Island is set to shut 33 of its 230 stores as part of a major restructuring plan that could put more than 1,000 jobs at risk.
A further 71 shops are under review, pending talks with landlords. 
The fashion giant said a shift to online shopping is one of the reasons behind the move.
Ben Lewis, the chief executive of River Island, said the company regretted any job losses and would “try to keep these to a minimum”.
He said: “River Island is a much-loved retailer, with a decades-long history on the British high street. 
“However, the well-documented migration of shoppers from the high street to online has left the business with a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers’ needs. 
“The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden.”
What could be better than a free gift on your birthday?
From cakes (there is a lot of free cake up for grabs) to burritos and shower gel, these are some of the best free birthday presents offered by companies, and most are available simply by signing up for a newsletter or app. 
Krispy Kreme
Download the doughnut brand’s rewards app and register for the free loyalty scheme. Once you’ve put in your details, you’ll get a voucher to exchange in-store for a free doughnut of your choice. You also get a free doughnut for signing up, so it’s two for the price of none if you time it well.
(Note, this is only valid in stores – not concessions, like Tesco).
Gail’s treat
If you’re looking for even more of a sugar hit, download the Gail’s app. Not only do you get a free drink for signing up, but you can also choose any item from the “Bakers Table” during your birthday month – this includes pastries, buns and cakes.
Free cupcake from Lola’s Cupcakes
Okay, this is one of my favourites – not that you will be short of sugar on your birthday. But if you sign up to Lola’s Cupcakes’ Love Club and are a member for at least 30 days, present your ID in store, and you will be able to claim a birthday cupcake.
It used to be a free five-inch cake once upon a time, but sadly, the cost of living crisis has come for us all, and it has been downgraded. However, if you signed up before 1 Feb 2025, for the rest of the year, you can claim the original treat. But that’s only for 2025 – from next year, it’ll be a cupcake with the commoners for you.
Let them eat a Costa slice of cake
If you are really channelling Marie Antoinette’s infamous misquoted command, download the Costa app and opt in to receive marketing emails. Then, on your birthday, you will find a QR code waiting for you. 
More baked goods
Greggs also offers you a free sweet treat if you download the chain’s app. You also get a free hot drink for downloading, so you can combine the two for an extra-special-sugar-loaded day.
And if you sign up to the Lidl Plus app, you’ll get a free doughnut from the bakery section. These are normally worth 30p, but hey, every Lidl helps.
More chocolate from Hotel Chocolat
Join the chocolate shop’s VIP.Me members’ club and share your birthday. You’ll be able to redeem a gift up to the value of £5. And while most of the chocolate can be quite pricey, there are plenty of items in that range to treat yourself to.
“Free” burrito from Barburrito
This is another one that has added a few T&Cs in recent times – so it is not strictly a freebie. Claim a free birthday burrito when you download the app and register your details. You then have to spend a minimum of £6 at Barburrito before your birthday month. Only then is the gift loaded into the ‘rewards’ section of the app and valid from the 1st day of your birthday month.
Chopstix Noodle Box
Sign up for the newsletter, and you will receive a free small box on your birthday, valid for up to seven days. You can choose between the three bases (egg fried rice, vegetable noodles, and skinny rice) and add some tasty toppings to personalise. But it is only available at participating stores. 
A Burger King Whopper
Download the Burger King App and register with the loyalty scheme, remembering to input your birthday – in return, you get a voucher for a free Whopper (or plant-based Whopper) on your birthday. You get 14 days to use this one.
Free meals – but there is a catch
A number of other restaurants offer free main meals on your birthday, but you have to order another main, so it’s not strictly free. But if you are already going, Frankie and Benny’s, Miller and Carter and Harvester all have offers. Meanwhile, Bill’s will give you a bottle of prosecco if you buy a main meal and sign up to their newsletter.
£5 Hobbycraft voucher
Sign up to be a member of the Hobbycraft Club and subscribe to receive emails. Once you have entered your birthday, you’ll be sent a £5 voucher for your birthday, valid in-store. Perfect for working off that sugar coma.
Trio of beauty items from SpaceNK
If you sign up for the loyalty scheme, you can get a free trio of beauty items for your birthday, provided you’ve made some kind of purchase in the last 12 months. It differs each month, and the items are all usually sample size, but have previously included Vitamin C serums and colour correctors. If you are a big spender, and have splashed £1,000 or more in the last 12 months, you’ll get a full-size item as a birthday gift. Definitely not a freebie, unless you are already a frequent shopper.
Sephora birthday gift
If you sign up to MySephora, you’ll be able to choose between a free birthday gift, a £5 voucher, or a charity donation for your birthday. The quality of the gift depends on how much you’ve spent at the store in the last 12 months. 
Amazon said it is “disappointed” by a decision to investigate its payments to suppliers.
As we reported on Friday, the grocery watchdog has launched an investigation into the retail giant to see if it has been intentionally delaying payments to its grocery suppliers.
The investigation will cover a period from 1 March 2022 to 20 June 2025, with a particular focus on practices since January 2024.
In response, Amazon told The Grocer it took the Groceries Supply Code of Practice “incredibly seriously” and would fully cooperate with the investigation.
“While we are disappointed with this decision, we welcome the opportunity to further demonstrate our ongoing compliance with this particular section of the code,” it said.
It said it had already made “significant improvements” to its grocery supply experience. 
By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
The latest escalation between the US and Israel against Iran has unsurprisingly increased the cost of oil.  
But after an initial spike on the open last night, prices eased.
As oil markets opened for the first time since the weekend strikes, the price shot up to $80.13, a five-month high last seen in late January.
It’s worth remembering that this is around the average price for 2024.
While the increase since late last week isn’t so sharp, throughout June, oil is up substantially. This time last month, a barrel cost $64.
Prices had been depressed as the world reeled from President Trump’s April tariff announcements.
Iran is not the world’s largest producer, and no oil sites have been hit, allowing investors to remain relatively calm, for now.
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