ICAEW: Low business investment will weigh on economic growth next year December 11, 2015 Economic growth will slow next year as business investment stutters, exports weaken further and skills shortages bite, according to the latest forecast from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). The group slashed its forecasts today for 2016 UK economic growth to 2.1 per cent from 2.6 per cent. One of the main [...]
Google tax row: Corporate behaviour and the UK’s tax code need to change – and urgently February 11, 2016 The tax affairs of multinational companies have dominated debate in recent weeks. Interest will likely spike again later today, when the Public Accounts Committee takes evidence from HMRC on the tax deals agreed with well-known global corporates. MPs will doubtless have some sharp questions to ask, reflecting increasing public anger around this complex issue. In an ever-more [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: This is what the CBI wants George Osborne to deliver November 24, 2014 What will George Osborne get out of his red box when he delivers the Autumn Statement next week? The CBI got off the starting block early with its wishlist, asking for a range of measures to boost British business, including better infrastructure around Stonehenge and business rates reform. Here's what the group businesses wants to [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: This is what the Scottish government wants George Osborne to deliver November 30, 2014 Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney has outlined what the Scottish government want when George Osborne gets out his red box for the Autumn Statement next week. It's asking for a range of measures including more devolution powers and a higher minimum wage. Here's a quick breakdown of what the Scottish government wants to see. [...]
Chancellor George Osborne agrees budget cuts with a further seven government departments ahead of the spending review November 17, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne has come to an agreement with seven more governmental departments on cutting the amount each spends. A series of cabinet ministers, including Iain Duncan Smith, have made a deal with Osborne, under which day-to-day spending will be cut by an average of 21 per cent by 2019-20, which is on average six per cent [...]
Don’t rely on government to defeat cyber crime: Business needs to get its act together January 15, 2016 If 2015 taught us anything, it’s that it is now a question of when, not if, our data will be compromised. Therefore, 2016 must be the year that business gets serious about the importance of cyber security. From the chief executive down to the intern, everyone will need to see cyber security as a top priority [...]
George Osborne’s Big Red Book is securing UK prosperity while Maoism gathers dust November 30, 2015 George Osborne set out last week how this government is fulfilling its manifesto promises: delivering financial security on the back of economic growth, and national security in an uncertain world. Coupled with plans to make markets work better for families and firms – like increasing competition so bills come down – he spoke to the [...]
George Osborne slams BBC over “hyperbolic” coverage of Autumn Statement spending cuts December 4, 2014 Chancellor George Osborne is less than impressed with some of the broadcast coverge given to his last major set piece event yesterday in the form of the Autumn Statement. Osborne denounced coverage of spending cuts to be delivered in the next parliament as "totally hyperbolic". The comments came after he was challenged with figures from [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: Rich pickings for George Osborne – banks, mansions, multinationals, tobacco December 3, 2014 George Osborne delivered sweeping reforms to property tax yesterday, in an Autumn Statement that aimed to raise extra billions from banks, tobacco companies, international corporations and buyers of expensive properties. Attempting to knock the wind out of Ed Miliband’s Labour party, the chancellor sought to neutralise several of the opposition’s key policies, taking on the [...]
These charts sum up everything you need to know about the 2014 Autumn Statement December 3, 2014 It’s Autumn Statement day and George Osborne’s speech will likely focus on the UK having a fast growing economy and falling unemployment rate. Coming from the other side of the Commons will be assertions that there is a cost of living crisis and that expenditure is still too high. What is the truth? Here are [...]