What is the Mansion House speech – and why does it matter to you?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her next Mansion House speech this evening (15 July). We look at what could be announced and how it might affect your finances

Rachel Reeves, UK chancellor of the exchequer
(Image credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The chancellor will deliver her second Mansion House speech this evening (15 July), when she is expected to launch the government’s long-awaited pensions adequacy review.

Pension contribution rates could form part of the review in an effort to boost savers’ retirement pots.

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The rationale behind a cut (possibly to as low as £4,000 or £5,000) was to encourage more people to invest in the UK stock market.

On a separate note, the chancellor is also expected to announce plans to loosen financial regulation. This could include reforms to the senior managers and certification regime – a set of accountability rules introduced after the Global Financial Crisis.

Reports also suggest Reeves will reiterate her fiscal rules during the speech, telling industry participants that she will not put the UK’s economic stability at risk. The current rules mean the chancellor cannot borrow to fund day-to-day spending, and that she must have debt falling as a proportion of GDP by 2029/30.

What is a Mansion House speech?

The Mansion House speech is an annual address given by the chancellor. Last year, Reeves delivered her inaugural address on 14 November.

The speech takes place at Mansion House in London, which is the official residence of the City of London’s Lord Mayor. Historically, it has been delivered to a room full of senior bankers and company bosses at the Annual Financial and Professional Services Dinner.

The speech is often used to sketch out future plans for the industry and is closely watched for clues on the government's next steps on regulation.

Last year, Reeves announced plans to merge the UK’s 86 local government pension schemes into more efficient megafunds.

She also spoke about addressing a culture of excessive risk aversion, and wrote to regulators after the speech to ensure a greater focus on supporting economic growth in their remits.

What could Reeves announce in the 2025 Mansion House speech?

The pensions adequacy review is likely to be a major feature of the Mansion House speech this year.

Pensions have been a big focus for the government since its election win, with Reeves looking to boost savers’ readiness for retirement while also using pensions as an engine for economic growth.

A pensions investment review has already been conducted, concluding earlier this year. The review focused on tackling fragmentation in the pensions market, and boosting investment in productive assets like infrastructure and private equity.

The government will turn its attention to retirement adequacy next, as it seeks to address systemic issues that mean millions are under-saving for retirement.

Timescales are unclear but pensions minister Torsten Bell has said auto-enrolment rates will not rise this parliament, suggesting any reforms could take place over the longer term.

The review could also look at the state pension, which has become increasingly expensive in recent years thanks to an ageing population and the state pension triple lock. The government has promised to keep the triple lock for the rest of this parliament, though, meaning it looks safe for now.

We can also expect to hear more about how the government plans to direct more money away from cash savings and into the stock market. While a reduction in the cash ISA limit seems to be off the cards for the time being, the chancellor is expected to outline other ways of boosting Britain’s stock market.

Reeves could look to achieve this through a public campaign that dispels some of the myths about investing – part of a cultural shift to get cash savers putting their money in UK companies.

The push will come after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revealed “once in a generation” advice changes last month. The shift could result in millions more people getting help managing their money without having to pay for regulated advice.

City bosses are also urging Reeves to focus on cutting the cost of investing, namely removing stamp duty when shares are bought.

Business lobby group CBI, investment platforms including Hargreaves Lansdown and Interactive Investor, and business leaders from Shell, HSBC and AstraZeneca are calling for “bold action” to bolster the London Stock Exchange as a global capital markets hub.

They want the government to abolish the 0.5% tax on shares. However, this seems to be a wish list from the industry, and there are no signs the government is considering the move – not least because it will cost billions of pounds a year.

Finally, Reeves is expected to set out the government’s financial services growth and competitiveness strategy during her speech. This will involve “building on our strengths in areas including capital markets, insurance and asset management,” Reeves told industry participants at a conference in April.

The strategy will also focus on “supporting firms to innovate by ensuring they can access and develop the talent they need, and promoting the UK as a great place to do business globally”.

Katie Williams
Staff Writer

Katie has a background in investment writing and is interested in everything to do with personal finance, politics, and investing. She enjoys translating complex topics into easy-to-understand stories to help people make the most of their money.


Katie believes investing shouldn’t be complicated, and that demystifying it can help normal people improve their lives.


Before joining the MoneyWeek team, Katie worked as an investment writer at Invesco, a global asset management firm. She joined the company as a graduate in 2019. While there, she wrote about the global economy, bond markets, alternative investments and UK equities.


Katie loves writing and studied English at the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the theatre, reading novels, travelling and trying new restaurants with friends.

With contributions from