Staff layoffs in UK gain pace amid Trump tariff turmoil and labour cost increases

Surveys show employer confidence at record low, prompting job cuts and hiring freeze

• UK rate cut may fail to improve voters' dim view of the government

UK employers laid off staff in April at a faster pace than the previous month as the combination of higher employment costs and shock waves from Donald Trump's tariff war sent boardroom confidence levels plummeting.

The human resources association, CIPD, said employer confidence levels slumped to an all-time low, prompting job cuts and a widespread hiring freeze.