Labour is failing the Lonsdale test October 23, 2024 The government should be asking: If Joe Lonsdale were to launch a podcast called British Optimist, what would we need to do in order to make his guests say they were positive about the future of the UK? Says James Price In a crowded field, there is one podcast whose new episodes I both look [...]
Borrowing to invest is all very well but what about value for money? October 23, 2024 The precise contents of the budget are still secret. But a widely trailed theme is that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, wants to create as much scope as possible for extra public sector investment. She appears to be willing to rewrite the existing fiscal rules in order to accommodate the increase. In principle of course there [...]
It’s hard work working out what ‘working people’ means October 22, 2024 Politicians do like to lump people together. In recent years we’ve had the squeezed middle, the just-about-managing, hard working families and (who could forget?) Nick Clegg’s “alarm clock Britain.” To this list of amorphous jargon we must now add “working people.” Labour figures have been leaning on the phrase for months, not least as part [...]
The Notebook: The self-employed pension crisis is on the cusp of boiling point October 22, 2024 A new report has shown the self-employed are facing a pension crisis. Interactive Investor's Craig Rickman digs into the findings.
A warning to Reeves: These tax rises will damage UK competitiveness October 22, 2024 Not only is the UK tax burden at record levels, but we are raising money in a more damaging way than our competitors. And the Budget could be about to make things even worse, says Daniel Herring Next week, Rachel Reeves needs to try not to make the UK’s tax system worse. Yesterday the US-based [...]
What are the biggest risks to pension saving in the Autumn Budget? October 22, 2024 Reeves faces difficult decisions at next week's Budget, but tampering risks creating more problems in the long-term, writes KPMG's Stephen Collins.
Explainer: Does the public have the answers for the NHS? October 21, 2024 A public consultation on NHS reform is yielding some interesting ideas…. The health secretary has launched the “biggest ever conversation about the future of the NHS” and invited the public to contribute to share their ideas for how to improve the health service. The responses are being published on the consultation’s website and it’s fair [...]
Labour must pull back from the brink and support the UK’s founders October 21, 2024 With half term holidays upon us, Portugal is a safe bet for a bit of winter sun. The forecast for Lisbon this week is 24 degrees and sunny, whereas London is set to be much cooler with rain sweeping in by Friday. Things may get even gloomier when the Chancellor unveils her Budget next week. [...]
The Notebook: Will workplaces start monitoring your Linkedin profile? October 21, 2024 Finance chiefs have chosen to leave Linkedin use unmonitored for decades, but could that be about to change?
The City is ready to bet on Britain. Now let’s see some bold moves October 21, 2024 The Investment Summit signalled a huge vote of confidence in the City - now let's use that to act, writes Chris Hayward.