CBI chief: Ministers must ‘co-design’ economic growth with businesses post-Budget November 25, 2024 Businesses should have a stronger voice in setting economic growth policies, the boss of an influential business lobby group has urged, including a shift from “consultation to co-design”. Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), told attendees at the group’s annual conference that the government and firms share a “vision of [...]
Who will be Labour’s next John Prescott? November 25, 2024 He couldn’t have been more different to Tony Blair, yet John Prescott ended up being our longest serving deputy prime minister. But is there a talent like him in Starmer’s cabinet? Asks William Atkinson As well as having a decent right hook, the late John Prescott was our longest-serving deputy prime minister (DPM). The formal creation of the [...]
‘A clear thumbs down’: UK business confidence slumped post-Budget November 22, 2024 The UK’s business optimism “slumped” in a downturn after the Autumn Budget, according to a closely watched survey of the private sector. S&P’s ‘flash’ purchasing managers’ index (PMI) came in at 49.9 in November, now below the neutral 50.0 threshold, down from 51.8 last month, and the lowest since October 2023. Firms reported a fractional [...]
UK sanctions Dmitry Firtash and Isabel dos Santos as it ramps up crackdown on kleptocrats November 21, 2024 The UK has issued fresh sanctions against a series of “unscrupulous kleptocrats”, including Ukrainian oligarch Dmitry Firtash and Angolan billionaire Isabel Dos Santos, as it cranks up its crack down on corruption and dirty money.
HMV suspends plans for new shops as Budget hikes costs November 21, 2024 HMV has suspended plans to open more new stores next year, blaming the decision on the government’s tax-raising Budget. The company planned to open multiple shops in the UK in 2025, but HMV’s owner Doug Putman told The Telegraph yesterday that this proposal was now on hold following the Budget. Confirming the decision, Putman told [...]
Family-run coach firms reeling from inheritance tax overhaul November 21, 2024 While there are a handful of national players, around eight in ten small and medium sized coach operators in Britain are family-owned.
Homeowners face massive inheritance tax hike after Budget hit November 21, 2024 London homeowners are going to be hit with an eye-watering 1,840 per cent increase in inheritance tax (IHT) liability, as a direct result of Rachel Reeves’ Budget changes, it has been calculated. A single homeowner in the capital with an averaged priced home of £525,586, with the same amount in their pension, will have a [...]
Surge in government borrowing raises threat of more Reeves tax hikes, economists warn November 21, 2024 A sharp rise in government borrowing costs fuelled by pay rises for public sector workers and rising debt payments has raised the threat of future tax hikes, according to economists. Borrowing rose to £17.4bn last month, marking the second highest October figure since monthly records began, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics [...]
Rachel Reeves needs to channel Alexander the Great, says City group November 21, 2024 The Association of British Insurers called on Rachel Reeves to break the “regulatory Gordian knot” last night – Hannah Gurga told Morning Wire why the group is calling for faster reform. According to ancient Greek legend, he who untied the Gordian knot was destined to rule over the whole of Asia. Unravelling the stubborn splice [...]
Hospitality firms are bracing for the return of inflation November 21, 2024 October’s inflation figure has worried hospitality firms. While it is not too far above target – 2.3 per cent versus the sweet spot of two per cent – and one month does not constitute a trend, it has exacerbated concerns companies already had about the future of their industry. There are two reasons hospitality is [...]