Clegg serves up free lunches for school kids September 17, 2013 NICK Clegg will today confirm that all pupils will receive free schools meals for their first three years of education – in a coalition deal that paves the way for Conservatives to introduce a tax break for married couples. From next September all children in reception, year one and year two will automatically get their [...]
What did you make of the measures announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn statement? December 5, 2012 JOEL BRYANT LIGHTSOURCE The fuel duty cut was an obvious and easy one to do, I think Osborne’s done it because he’s had a lot of hassle from the back benches. I don’t think the corporation tax changes will make much of a difference, there needed to be a bolder clampdown on tax avoidance. I’d [...]
PwC bets chancellor will scrap duty hike in Autumn Statement November 28, 2012 THE most likely tax announcement George Osborne will make in his Autumn Statement is scrapping the planned 3p fuel duty rise, PwC estimated yesterday. The odds of Osborne cancelling January’s rise are 7-2, the financial services giant said, ahead of extending entrepreneur’s relief to all employees, rated at 5-1. Least likely of the possibilities are scrapping [...]
Clegg announces free school meals for children in first three years of school September 17, 2013 Nick Clegg will tomorrow announce that all children in their first three years of education will receive free school meals, covering around 1.5m a year. Lib Dems believe that free meals provide an even greater academic boost than enforced literacy hours by enabling children who may not get enough food from home to concentrate during [...]
Economic growth boosts hopes for tax giveaways December 1, 2013 GEORGE Osborne could have more room for tax cut giveaways as the economy recovers, analysts predicted ahead of Thursday’s Autumn Statement. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is expected to reveal Osborne is ahead of previous forecasts on cutting the deficit, opening the way for him to consider loosening the purse strings. The OBR is [...]
Our at-a-glance guide to Osborne’s mini-budget December 5, 2013 Growth up, borrowing down, yet the debt is still rising. Another raid on the banks, but shops to gain from reduced business rates THE UK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK● The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has revised up its forecast for economic growth and revised down its prediction for inflation. It expects unemployment to drop quickly next [...]
The CBI boss on why political risk is now the biggest threat to business October 31, 2013 John Cridland tells Allister Heath and Elizabeth Fournier that investors are beginning to worry about the UK AFTER more than two decades spent inhabiting the CBI’s offices in Centre Point, the shockingly ugly high-rise just off Tottenham Court Road, John Cridland is on the move. When not kept busy preparing his submission to the chancellor [...]
Treasury looks to ease cost of living burden August 20, 2013 THE TREASURY is looking at ways to ease the cost of living, City A.M. understands, raising hopes that the Autumn Statement could see another round of tax cuts or freezes. After years of high inflation outstripping wage growth, the government has faced criticism for doing to little to ease the squeeze on living standards. As [...]
New competition regulator to begin review of banking March 11, 2014 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK's new competition regulator, has announced today that it’s starting a short programme of work into the banking sector, with a decision on whether or not to make a market investigation by the autumn. It’ll publish its work on person current accounts and SME banking in the summer, [...]
Mid cap stocks gain favour as UK economic optimism rises November 26, 2013 But don’t write off the more international FTSE 100 blue chips THE UK recovery has finally taken hold. But not only is growth returning, many are now more optimistic about our economic prospects compared to other advanced nations. Last week, the OECD revised down its 2013 global growth forecasts to 2.7 per cent from 3.1 [...]