Claims extracted
17
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
24%
4 of 17 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
66/100
The Guardian's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Economy/Business
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
A top Lloyds Banking Group executive has criticised the chancellor for linking bank tax increases to energy bill support for UK households, as he warned the government against extending the higher levy beyond March 2028.
asserted
he → criticise → March
Lloyds’ chief financial officer, William Chalmers, acknowledged that the economic environment was “challenging but said this should not come at the expense of the banking sector, as it provides loans that could fuel UK growth.
uncertain
that → acknowledge → growth
“Ultimately, it is important that the UK banking sector is able to deliver banking services to businesses and households and communities in a cost-effective way, in order to promote UK growth,” he said, adding that it was also important that the sector stayed internationally competitive.
asserted
sector → deliver → growth
“We therefore very much hope that yesterday’s tax increase is indeed a temporary measure, to help ensure the business environment remains consistent with supporting long-term investment,” Chalmers told journalists during an earnings call on Thursday morning.
asserted
Chalmers → hope → morning
The comments came less than 24 hours after the chancellor, John Healey, announced plans to double the bank surcharge, which is levied on top of corporation tax, from 3% to 6% from January.
asserted
which → come → January
Healey said the increase would be “time limited”, lasting 15 months in order “to pay for immediate support on energy bills”.
asserted
increase → say → bills
However, Chalmers questioned the government’s decision to tie bank taxes to soaring energy costs, amid concerns that this could open the door to an extension or even further rise in the levy after the 15 months expire.
uncertain
months → question → levy
“We hope this tax rate is limited,” he said.
asserted
he → hope → ?
“When we look forward: what impact, if any, will energy prices have on that?
asserted
prices → look → that
Well, I don’t see an obvious linkage between energy prices and bank taxes.
asserted
I → see → prices
“In fact, if anything, it makes it even more important that we’re able to lend into the real economy and secure growth, which is the best defence against energy price impacts that might otherwise be there on the UK economy.
uncertain
that → make → economy
”
While the Treasury has promised to legislate for the 15-month tax rise limit in the financial bill, senior bankers and industry lobbyists have privately questioned whether a further energy crisis could throw that limit out the window.
uncertain
crisis → promise → window
Some pointed to Spain, where a two-year windfall tax on banks, meant to alleviate cost of living pressures in 2022, was ultimately extended a further three years, and increased from 4.8% to 7% for the country’s largest banks.
asserted
tax → point → banks
“We are a major taxpayer,” Chalmers said: “We paid around £1.8bn of corporate taxes year to date, and it is important to us that we have a stable and a predictable tax regime.”
asserted
we → say → regime
Lloyds on Thursday revealed that its third-quarter pre-tax profits almost doubled from a year earlier, from £1.2bn to £2.3bn.
asserted
profits → reveal → 2.3bn
However, that increase largely reflected the £800m hit it took last year after setting aside another £800m for compensation over the motor finance scandal.
asserted
it → reflect → scandal
Its results were also supported by a 10% rise in net interest income, which measures the difference between what it charges borrowers versus what it pays to savers, showing the bank continued to benefit from higher interest rates.
Net interest income has risen across the banking industry, as inflation expectations – driven by higher fuel prices triggered by the war in the Middle East – pushed up interest rates.
asserted
expectations → support → rates
The Aporia
