Dabbers at the ready, how many of these can you hear? Eyes down for a full house (of Commons)… December 4, 2013 AUTUMN STATEMENT BINGO “Squeezed middle” Not a reference to Osborne’s waistline… “Pasty” The baked snack targeted for tax until Osborne did a U-turn “Smoke and mirrors” Something Osborne has been accused of “Free school meals” …but costly to taxpayers and a Clegg victory “Lola” Osborne’s new Bichon Frise puppy as seen on Twitter “China” The [...]
New report hits out at costly green scheme November 28, 2013 THE DEBATE into the UK’s green plans flared up yesterday as a new report claimed that an energy efficiency scheme is set to waste £610m unless reforms are made. Research by energy consultants EUM called for reform to the Energy Companies Obligation (Eco), a government energy-saving initiative that mandates firms to insulate their poorest customers’ [...]
2 tech investments the chancellor didn’t mention December 5, 2013 The Global Collaborative Space Programme One thing George Osborne didn't mention in his delivery of the Autumn Statement was the establishing of a Global Collaborative Space Programme. And the £80m, five-year fund to help with UK involvement in the so-called programme. The initiative, says the government, will be "an international pillar to [...]
First Utility partners with Shell to bring down its energy costs December 9, 2013 IN A bid to break the stranglehold of the big six, independent energy supplier First Utility yesterday said it has secured a partnership with Shell Energy to get better deals from the wholesale market. Under the new five to 10 year deal, energy giant Shell will act as an intermediary for First Utility, using its [...]
Stansted says it will keep growing despite Davies thumbs down December 17, 2013 STANSTED executives were stoic yesterday after the airport was left off the shortlist for a new runway. The airport, which was taken over by Manchester Airports Group in February, had set out plans to build a second runway – and Boris Johnson had talked up the site’s prospects as a five-runway hub. However, Sir Howard [...]
People’s Postcode Lottery: A gamble where everybody wins December 18, 2014 Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £56m for charity and they aim to raise even more next year. Fancy your luck this Christmas? Well, deciding to play People’s Postcode Lottery (PPL) isn’t a gamble at all when you know that the money you pay is being used to support some of the UK’s [...]
UK risks fiscal abyss unless debt pile is tackled, think tanks warn November 26, 2013 GEORGE Osborne must do more to address the threat to the UK’s recovery from its mounting public debt, according to warnings from two think tanks this morning. As next week’s Autumn Statement looms, researchers are warning that a hike in interest rates would rapidly raise the cost of government borrowing, throwing the UK’s nascent recovery [...]
The chancellor did nothing to reverse the decline in long-term savings December 5, 2013 THE AUTUMN Statement confirmed what we already knew. The UK recovery is on track and is set to strengthen. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) now expects growth of 1.4 per cent in 2013 and 2.4 per cent in 2014. In fact, these forecasts will likely be exceeded. And together with the astute announcements of [...]
Forecast points to £3bn in gifts from Osborne December 3, 2013 AS CHANCELLOR George Osborne’s Autumn Statement draws nearer, a new report today lays out what is expected from the Treasury. EY’s Item Club are the latest group to suggest Osborne’s giveaways will run to around £3bn, projecting that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will slash the UK’s borrowing forecast to £110bn. This would mean [...]
Why today’s US jobs number is the most important economic event this week December 6, 2013 Later today, the most important data on the global economic calendar will be released: US nonfarm payrolls. The jobs report will be the most obvious sign yet as to whether – and when – the Fed will begin tapering its $85bn per month quantitative easing programme. The timing of a stimulus cut has preoccupied markets [...]