Smaller companies say costs of Rachel Reeves tax rises led to them laying off more workers in AprilBusiness live – latest updatesA 17-month period of expansion in the UK’s services sector came to an abrupt end in April as uncertainty created by Donald Trump’s tariff war hit new orders and exports.A poll of purchasing managers in services businesses showed that the US president’s tariff campaign had sent a chill through the sector, which accounts for about three-quarters of the UK economy, hitting business confidence about the prospects for the years ahead. Continue reading...