Opinion-in-brief: Free Covid-19 tests enable personal responsibility February 17, 2022 Boris Johnson will announce his strategy to “live with Covid-19” next Monday, bringing an end to all restrictions in England. The provision of free rapid flow tests is also under review in a bid to save as much as £10bn. Johnson has put considerable effort into turning the Covid-19 strategy into a question of “personal [...]
New chancellor, same story: London is always left out of Whitehall’s plan for growth March 16, 2023 London won’t always keep growing if it is continually ignored by government. What will the Chancellor have to say then?
Starmer goes after PM on slow UK economic growth April 27, 2022 Sir Keir Starmer has attacked Boris Johnson for his record on the economy, after projections recently put the UK at the bottom of the G7 for economic growth. The Labour leader also hit out at Johnson for “his choice to be the only leader in the G7 to raise taxes” post-Covid and for “burying his [...]
More than £21bn a year: UK ranks third in Europe for most money lost due to unpaid corporate tax June 22, 2022 The UK ranks third among European countries for the most money lost due to corporate tax abuse on a yearly basis. The European nation that loses the most money to corporate tax abuse is Germany where, on an annual basis, an estimated £27.3 billion goes unpaid. This is followed by France where tax abuse losses [...]
Housing market holds up well despite Bank of England rate hikes August 8, 2022 The UK property market is still running hot despite the Bank of England’s rapid interest rate hike cycle, according to research by City A.M. House purchases dipped around four per cent in June compared to December when the Bank’s first rate rise landed, dropping to 95,420 from 99,560, according to HMRC data. Governor Andrew Bailey [...]
3 Ways To Improve Credit Risk Models for Financial Lenders August 1, 2023 Assessing financial risk based on historical credit performance, is no longer the leading factor to underpin lending decision-making, with our modern and inclusive economy. I know that traditional banking and finance professionals may not agree with that statement, especially if they have been accustomed to many years of using the management of credit as an [...]
Post-Brexit deal with New Zealand goes to Parliament despite ‘concerns’ over removing tariffs October 26, 2022 A post-Brexit deal between the UK and New Zealand will be “formally laid in Parliament” today despite concerns over its impact on UK producers. International trade minister Kemi Badenoch made the announcement in a letter to Angus MacNeil, the chair of the international trade committee. The deal was agreed in February by Bedanoch’s predecessor and [...]
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warns of uncertainty over inflation drop May 17, 2023 The risk of inflation staying higher for longer than the Bank of England’s two per cent target than it expects is mounting due to the slow reduction of wage pressures and price rises, the Governor of the central bank warned today. Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) annual conference, Andrew Bailey warned the [...]
UK narrowly avoids recession as penny pinching Brits help GDP grow 0.1 per cent March 31, 2023 The UK was not formally in a dreaded recession between October and December, with UK GDP increasing slightly by 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022. Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the economy marginally improved from an initial estimate of “no growth”. [...]
Lush posts huge loss but hopes SpongeBob SquarePants and Barbie deals can turn fortunes around May 17, 2024 Lush is seeking the help of SpongeBob SquarePants and Barbie to help it boost sales and return to profit.