Small businesses gear up for growth despite Budget pressures December 29, 2024 Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are gearing up for expansion in 2025 despite fears about the state of the economy. In a survey of over 2,000 SMEs conducted directly after Labour’s Autumn Budget, 81 per cent said they were confident their business would grow next year, with confidence among those employing more than 50 [...]
Small boat Channel crossings continue after migrant total reaches 150,000 December 28, 2024 Small boat crossings have continued in the English Channel on Saturday despite the morning’s foggy conditions. Pictures showed the Dungeness lifeboat bringing a number of people, thought to have been picked up from a small boat in the Channel, into the port at Dover. The latest arrivals follow crossings made on Christmas Day, Boxing Day [...]
Starmer demands ‘concrete proposals’ on growth from regulators December 28, 2024 The Prime Minister has called on Britain’s regulators to do more to prioritise growth as he seeks to improve living standards by 2029. In letters sent last week, Sir Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said they wanted to see “concrete proposals” from regulators setting out how they could “go further” [...]
Tax experts question £3m family farm IHT exemption as not ‘realistic’ December 27, 2024 The government’s claim that family farms will benefit from a £3m tax exemption has been questioned by tax experts. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has argued in defence of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ move in the Budget to charge inheritance tax (IHT) on agricultural land worth above £1m. He said earlier this month that in a [...]
UK economy flatlined last quarter revised figures reveal December 23, 2024 The latest revised figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed the UK economy did not grow in the third quarter of this year. The statistics watchdog had previously said the economy grew 0.1 per cent in the third quarter. However, according to the latest figures, the economy flatlined, leaving the UK with no [...]
75mph gusts forecast as Christmas getaway disruption continues December 22, 2024 Winds of up to 75mph have been forecast for parts of the UK as the Christmas getaway period continues to see disruption caused by bad weather. Heathrow Airport has confirmed around 100 flights have been cancelled on Sunday and passengers are advised to check with their airline before travelling. It comes as the Met Office [...]
Labour’s growth gamble will decide Britain’s future December 18, 2024 Labour’s plan to invest for growth is Keynesianism 101. Delivering on it will require discipline and competence — recent history gives us plenty of reasons to be sceptical, says Damian Pudner Britain’s economic fortunes have hit a moment of reckoning. Public debt has ballooned to an eye-watering £2.8 trillion, roughly 100 per cent of GDP. [...]
Lack of bids keeps 17,000 homes stuck in development purgatory December 17, 2024 Around 17,000 affordable homes are stuck in development purgatory due to a lack of demand from housing providers, according to new research. Under the English planning system, housing developments must set aside a proportion of the site for affordable housing via a Section 106 deal. These Section 106 houses have become an increasingly important mechanism [...]
FCA sets out plans for new Pisces private stock market December 17, 2024 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set out its plans for a new private stock market system today as it looks to revive London’s flagging IPO pipeline and allow investors to more easily tap into unlisted companies. In a consultation document, the City watchdog said the new stock market system, PISCES, first tabled by the [...]
Strong wage growth kills hopes of interest rate cut December 17, 2024 Analysts have warned that strong wage growth data reported this morning has killed any chance that the Bank of England will cut interest rates later this week. While the central bank had been widely expected to hold interest rates at its Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Thursday, the decision has been cemented by wages rising [...]