Closing post
Time to wrap up….
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has hailed the economic opportunities from expanding Gatwick airport, in the face of criticism from environmental groups.
When not testing her skills on a flight simulator, Reeves claimed that a second runway at Gatwick will mean lower costs for a family holiday, and a greater choice of destination, as well as more good jobs.
Speaking at the airport, she said:
“Today, this Government are backing a second runway here at Gatwick.
“That’s in addition to our commitments to a third runway at Heathrow, small modular reactors and a new nuclear power station in Suffolk, backing energy projects and transport projects right around the country.
“This extra runway at Gatwick will mean that people going on holiday will have a greater choice of destinations, it will mean lower costs for a family holiday.
“And it will also mean more good jobs paying decent wages through this injection of cash into our economy.
Reeves had earlier cited the decision to greenlight Gatwick’s second runway as proof that the government “will back the builders and not the blockers”.
But the decision has been dubbed “a disaster” by the Green Party, while Friends of the Earth, argues that the economic case for the expansion is ‘massively overstated’:
Local pressure groups hope to raise funds for a judicial review of the decision.
In other news:
Passengers have faced another day of flight delays across Europe, as big airports continue to grapple with the aftermath of a cyber-attack on the company behind the software used for check-in and boarding.
Economists are warning that Donald Trump’s decision to hike the cost of skilled worker visas will hurt the US economy.
The US has offered financial support to Argentina, pledging that “all options for stabilization are on the table”
Gold has hit a new record high, touching $3728 per ounce for the first time
Argentinian assets surge as US offers support
The US government has thrown Argentina a financial lifeline.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said “all options for stabilization are on the table” to support Argentina, who he calls a “systemically important U.S. ally in Latin America”.
Posting on X, Bessent adds:
These options may include, but are not limited to, swap lines, direct currency purchases, and purchases of U.S. dollar-denominated government debt from Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund.
Opportunities for private investment remain expansive, and Argentina will be Great Again.
These options may include, but are not limited to, swap lines, direct currency purchases, and purchases of U.S. dollar-denominated government debt from Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund.
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) September 22, 2025
Opportunities for private investment remain expansive, and Argentina will be Great…
Bessent’s support for Argentina comes after the country’s central bank was forced to spend more than $1bn to prop up the peso last week, as a political crisis engulfing president Javier Milei unnerved markets.
Authorities acted after the peso hit the bottom of its exchange rate band set by Milei – famous for economic shock therapy policies, heavy spending cuts, and anti-progressive politics.
Bessent also revealed on X that he and president Trump will meet with Milei on Tuesday in Manhattan.
The peso has surged by 3.5%, while an exchange traded fund that tracks Argentinian stocks has rallied by 6.5%.
Updated
