Budget 2017 UK: Buzzword predictions and Philip Hammond’s speech odds from bookies – Brexit, Trump and the NHS March 7, 2017 Brace yourself… there's a Budget coming. Philip Hammond will be making his first speech laying out plans for spending and the telling the nation about the state of the economy in his Spring Budget on Wednesday. What's in store from the newbie chancellor? And will he be picking up from where his predecessor George Osborne left [...]
Former Tory leader William Hague is calling for an early general election – and Theresa May says no March 7, 2017 Surprise, surprise: Downing Street has shot down attempts by former Conservative leader Lord Hague to persuade Theresa May to call a snap general election. A Downing Street source said May had been "clear and consistent in her position: she doesn't think there should be one". Writing in the Daily Telegraph, William Hague said the move “would strengthen [...]
Here’s what the property sector is expecting in this week’s Budget – from stamp duty to landlords to luxury homes March 7, 2017 It’s that time of year again: the days are getting longer, the trees are blossoming, and the one-time-only Spring Budget is rapidly approaching – with homeowners and landlords alike steeling themselves for more punishment from the chancellor. The good news is it looks unlikely there will be much to punish homeowners or lower house prices [...]
Budget 2017 UK predictions: What you can expect from the chancellor’s Spring Budget March 7, 2017 It's that time of year again: the chancellor is getting set to dust off his little red box and deliver the Spring Budget. It's the last one we'll see at this time of year, as Philip Hammond decided to move the major announcements to an Autumn Statement schedule. It's likely to be a more staid [...]
The US and UK are failing to confront the long-term drivers of explosive debt growth March 7, 2017 The chancellor Philip Hammond will take to the despatch box tomorrow to deliver his Budget. The media will pore over the plethora of announcements made – fiddly tax changes here, growth forecast revisions there. But this short-term focus misses the real policy story of the post-crisis period. The political class is failing to address our [...]
Entrepreneur housebuilders have been crushed: We must bring them back to life March 7, 2017 It's nothing new to say that too few homes are being built in the UK. Fourteen housing ministers in the last 20 years have acknowledged it time after time, just as they have recognised that housing – or the lack thereof – is the UK’s greatest modern economic challenge. Yet the frequency with which these individuals have [...]
It’s productivity, stupid: The chancellor must be bolder on the greatest threat to living standards March 7, 2017 Whenever a new Budget is in the offing, fiscal policy tends to take centre stage. But while an open and lively debate over the goals of fiscal policy in the coming year is to be welcomed, we should not forget about the economic problems that, lurking in the background, continue to afflict the country. In particular, [...]
Letter: Reform business rates entrepreneurs tell chancellor ahead of Spring Budget March 7, 2017 Entrepreneurs, startup founders and tech leaders have penned an open letter to chancellor Philip Hammond ahead of the Spring Budget calling for business rates reform. Dear chancellor, In recent years London has established itself as Europe’s top destination for technology startups. Our capital has gone above and beyond to welcome and nurture some of the [...]
Entrepreneurs and tech leaders urge chancellor to give startups business rate exemption in Spring Budget March 7, 2017 Entrepreneurs and tech leaders are urging the chancellor Philip Hammond to exempt newly created companies from business rates, adding their voice to a growing chorus of anger at the burden of an imminent rise in costs, and calls for reform. A three-year exemption would give startups breathing space and a chance to find their feet while [...]
Former chancellor Norman Lamont warns Brexit is “under attack” March 6, 2017 A former Conservative chancellor has warned that Brexit is “under attack”, calling on the House of Lords to “see sense”. Lord Lamont said yesterday that Prime Minister Theresa May should be allowed to begin official negotiations as soon as possible. Lamont, who supported exiting the EU, served as chancellor under John Major between 1990 and 1993, [...]