Courts scramble to move online as coronavirus hits trials March 19, 2020 Courts in England and Wales have begun a painstaking move away from physical appearances towards online and telephone hearings as the coronavirus epidemic intensifies. Today, the head of the judiciary, the Lord Chief Justice said: “The default position now in all jurisdictions must be that hearings should be conducted with one, more than one or [...]
Budget: Hunt considering pension changes to encourage over 50s back to work March 14, 2023 The Chancellor is understood to be looking at increasing the pension lifetime allowance (LTA) in a move that is being interpreted as attempting to reverse the trend of early retirements. The PA news agency understands Jeremy Hunt is considering allowing workers to put more money into their pension pot before being taxed as part of [...]
Rishi Sunak is risking his Conservative credentials if he ignores business rates October 25, 2021 For anyone who watches economic policy, reforming business rates seems rather like changing the House of Lords: everyone agrees it’s absolutely vital, the system needs to be modernised to enhance our productivity, but no one away from the think-tank fringes actually wants to get involved. The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, promised in March 2020 to review [...]
Inside Westminster’s war with the FCA May 9, 2024 The relationship between the Financial Conduct Authority and the government has been fractious in recent years. Charlie Conchie takes a look at why Westminster went to war with the regulator
Boris Johnson’s political survival could come at the cost of Britain’s rule of law April 20, 2022 Last week epitomised a favourite phrase of political pundits: it was a “bruising week” for the government. This one, so far, isn’t shaping up to be much better, after the Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis compared fines handed out to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to speeding tickets. The partygate fines have been fraught [...]
Rishi Sunak to unveil £500m extra funding for Covid jobs programmes October 3, 2021 Rishi Sunak will tomorrow commit to an extra £500m in spending to boost the government’s post-Covid jobs and skills programmes. Sunak will say in his Conservative party conference speech that he will “double down” on his promise to “do whatever it takes” to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods during the pandemic. It comes as the [...]
Lord Mayor calls on financial regulators to focus on innovation and sustainability September 22, 2021 Lord Mayor of the City of London, William Russell, will tonight (22 September) deliver a speech at the City Dinner at The Mansion House to an audience of senior regulators and representatives from across the financial and professional services industry. Lord Mayor William Russell will speak alongside Sam Woods, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England [...]
Crypto ‘Wild West’: City regulator accused of pushing firms abroad April 16, 2024 The City watchdog has been accused of pushing British crypto firms abroad with its approach to regulation. Lars Mucklejohn takes a closer look at where the UK's digital assets industry is heading
The Conservative Party under Johnson has given up its devotion to freedom June 13, 2022 It was country music legend Toby Keith who observed that “Freedom don’t come free”. Nevertheless, when the Conservative Party adopted the Manchester liberalism of Margaret Thatcher nearly 50 years ago, it was willing to pay the price. Freedom, in all its forms, became a touchstone of the Conservative brand, pursued not only for its beneficial [...]
Where to eat, drink and sleep in Birmingham for Tory Party Conference October 2, 2022 On 2 october, Tory Party Conference kicks off in Birmingham. It remains to be seen whether the city famous for its Bull Ring will witness any blood sport following the fallout from the chancellor’s mini-budget. But whether it’s toasting the new PM or ruefully navel-gazing over Keir Starmer’s poll lead, the city’s hotels, restaurants, bars [...]