You know what won’t improve state efficiency? More watchdogs November 12, 2024 Donald Trump and Keir Starmer agree on one thing at least: their governments need reforming and to be much more efficient. Sadly for those on this side of the Atlantic, our value-for-money policies inspire little confidence. The UK already needed radical attention but Labour’s first Budget has raised the stakes even higher. As the Office [...]
Treasury sells another £1bn in Natwest shares as stake falls further November 11, 2024 Natwest has bought back another tranche of shares from the Treasury as the government continues to accelerate its exit from the Big Four lender.
Lord Pannick to take on government over VAT decision on private schools November 1, 2024 The government is set to face Lord Pannick as legal action has commenced over its decision to charge private schools VAT on fees
Autumn Budget 2024: Taxes rocket by £40bn as employers told to pay more October 30, 2024 Rachel Reeves has hiked employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) by 1.2 per cent, as she delivered the Labour government’s first Autumn Budget in office, which saw taxes rise by a record £40bn and government borrowing increase. The Chancellor unveiled the rise – which is set to see the levy hit 15 per cent for firms [...]
In defence of Treasury brain October 30, 2024 Treasury officials are often criticised for making budgets add up in the short term at the expense of long-term goals. That’s true, but imagine the money that would be wasted if they didn’t! Writes Joe Hill Budgets are divisive, everyone has their own gripe. Too much spending, or too little. Not enough growth, or too [...]
Budget Day dawns: Bosses are ‘concerned and apprehensive’ October 30, 2024 Business leaders are concerned and apprehensive as Budget day dawns and firms from start-ups to Square Mile stalwarts wait with bated breath for Rachel Reeves to reveal the extent of the tax rises contained in the government’s first fiscal event after 14 years out of power. Pollsters asked bosses and senior executives to select from [...]
Rachel Reeves warned a capital gains tax hike could trigger a market sell-off October 17, 2024 Investors could begin offloading stocks ahead of the Budget this month amid rumours the Chancellor is preparing to hike the level of capital gains tax (CGT) paid on shares, analysts have warned. Rachel Reeves is set to use her inaugural budget on 30 October to lift by several percentage points the charge paid by investors [...]
Capital gains tax could be hiked to almost 40 per cent October 10, 2024 Capital gains tax could be hiked by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to almost 40 per cent in the Budget, according to reports. The Guardian has reported that the Treasury is modelling a range of between 33 per cent to 39 per cent. Around 350,000 people pay the wealth tax with is levied on the sale of [...]
Prepare to flee London’s AIM if Reeves mounts inheritance tax raid, bank warns October 10, 2024 Companies listed on London’s junior AIM market are being told to prepare to flee the exchange or announce emergency share buybacks amid fears that a punishing inheritance tax raid could trigger a sell-off, Morning Wire has learned. In a letter seen by Morning Wire, one investment bank has urged all of its AIM-listed clients to [...]
NHS pension tax grab could see ‘return to strikes’, government warned October 9, 2024 Plans to reduce the tax-free lump sum savers can withdraw from their pension could see NHS workers mount a “return to pay unrest and strikes”, the government has been warned. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly mulling plans to cap withdrawals at £100,000 in the Budget on 30 October in a bid to shore up the [...]