Lib Dem party conference: Vince Cable warns exports hampered by carbon levies October 5, 2014 Business secretary Vince Cable has warned that the carbon price floor, a green levy that hits energy-intensive businesses hardest, is holding back UK exports. Speaking at a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat annual conference in Glasgow yesterday, Cable said the tax is hampering businesses who can’t compete with their counterparts abroad. “Many of our [...]
Why London’s world-beating position in global insurance is now under threat January 7, 2015 A new piece of research into the competitiveness of the London insurance market, released by the London Market Group late last year, confirmed many existing fears. The capital’s position as a world leader in insurance is under threat, and it’s critical that we confront – with the support of the UK government – the challenges [...]
Selling public land is just the start: Three steps to solve London’s housing crisis November 19, 2014 WE HAVE got to the stage that, if you don’t know there’s a serious housing shortage in London, I’d assume you must be living in a cave. This shortage comes with increasingly obvious social and economic ramifications. London First recently published research showing that more than half of workers (56 per cent) have difficulties paying [...]
Why predictions of rapid real wage growth are likely to be proved wrong November 18, 2014 IN 2014, the UK economy is likely to have grown by over 3 per cent, employment growth has been remarkably strong, some progress has been made on reducing the deficit, and inflation remains low and stable, despite yesterday’s slight uptick to 1.3 per cent on the consumer price index (CPI). But of all the statistics [...]
David Cameron warns voters not to abandon Tories ahead of 2015 general election November 17, 2014 David Cameron has done an about-turn on the economy, Labour’s Ed Miliband said yesterday. The Prime Minister, Miliband continued, was getting his excuses in early about the state of the UK’s finances, having spent months shouting about the strength of Britain’s recovery. About-turn or not, building on the “there is still more to do” [...]
Tory dates backfire: Ukip hijacks Cameron’s birthday and gatecrashes party conference September 3, 2014 What is it with the Tories and inauspicious dates? Ukip must be sniggering at the news that the Clacton by-election is set to take place on 9 October – the same day as David Cameron’s 48th birthday (that’s only four more than the points lead Ukip have over the Conservatives in the Essex seaside resort). [...]
Twelve reasons why the campaign for Brexit is quickly gaining momentum June 23, 2015 It was not long after the Conservative general election victory that the campaign for the UK to stay in the European Union was launched – no matter how disappointing the results of David Cameron’s renegotiation might be. Even before the Referendum Bill was published and the wording of the question set, the creation of [...]
Cost of complexity: Britain’s tax relief chaos is even overwhelming HMRC November 27, 2014 HOW CAN HMRC be expected to administer Britain’s chaotic tax system if politicians keep passing so much legislation? Despite George Osborne frequently stating his preference for simpler taxes, last year’s Finance Bill was the second longest ever at 646 pages. There have only been five Finance Acts longer than 600 pages, and the coalition is [...]
Deficit reduction target at risk as George Osborne borrows £11.6bn in August despite rise in tax revenues September 23, 2014 The UK government had to borrow £11.6bn in August as it failed to slash the budget deficit, putting chancellor George Osborne’s borrowing targets for the year at risk. In his March statement, Osborne aimed to cut £10bn off government borrowing in 2014-15, compared to the year before. But new figures from the Office for National [...]
Firms demand business rate cut in Osborne’s Autumn Statement October 23, 2013 BUSINESS rates are often higher than rents, squeezing entrepreneurs and giving little benefit in return, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) said yesterday. The group called for the chancellor to freeze rates in his Autumn Statement in early December, and to commission an independent study into the taxes. “Ninety-seven per cent of FPB members believe property taxation [...]