Long-term sickness: How worsening mental health is holding back the economy May 4, 2024 Economic inactivity, driven by long-term sickness, is fast becoming one of the most pressing challenges facing the UK economy.
Flip flopping over tax hikes and spending cuts a ‘bruising episode’ for UK November 21, 2022 Flip flopping on UK economic policy has been “a bruising episode” for the country over the past few months, a top City economist said today. The huge swing in tax and spending decisions between former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and the current number 11 incumbent Jeremy Hunt has damaged the country’s financial credibility, according to Neil Shearing, [...]
Budget 2020: Rishi Sunak gives economy £30bn boost amid coronavirus outbreak March 11, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a £30bn stimulus package to support the UK economy through the coronavirus outbreak in the biggest spending spree in almost 30 years. Sunak – who was made chancellor last month – said it was one of the most comprehensive responses to the outbreak by any government. The plan earmarks £12bn [...]
Self-employed coronavirus stimulus: Rishi Sunak to pay Britain’s freelancers up to £2,500 a month March 26, 2020 The government will pay 80 per cent of self-employed workers’ wages, up to £2,500 a month, to deal with the economic fallout from coronavirus. The package was announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak today, giving self-employed workers the same support announced for traditional workers last week. It will be available for any self-employed person who has [...]
Don’t blame shops for prices if leaders can’t stop inflation August 5, 2022 Inflation is soaring and the UK’s food and drink manufacturers are under incredible pressure. No one can remember such sustained, relentless price rises across all our inputs – everything, from energy and ingredients to transport and wages, is more expensive. With food price inflation now at 9.8 per cent, everyone is asking: how much further [...]
CBI: Permanent investment relief needed to unlock economic growth March 1, 2022 Creating a permanent tax relief on business investment will unlock a well of productivity hidden in the UK economy, according to Britain’s biggest business group. The government should strengthen incentives for businesses to ramp up capital spending by using the super deduction as a model to create a permanent investment scheme, the Confederation of British [...]
Shell: ‘We understand worry for millions – but windfall tax creates uncertainty’ May 27, 2022 Shell has slammed the government’s windfall tax. It said while it “understands the worry for millions” about the cost of living crisis, the new tax creates “uncertainty” about investment in the UK energy sector. This follows Chancellor Rishi Sunak announcing a so-called Energy Profits Levy, a 25 per cent surcharge on North Sea oil and [...]
Liz Truss frontrunner to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative leader December 28, 2021 Foreign secretary Liz Truss has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed prime minister Boris Johnson among Conservative party leaders, a new poll has revealed. Truss, the former trade secretary until Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle in Septmber, has inched ahead of chancellor Rishi Sunak, according to a Survey by Conservative Home. A little over 23 per cent [...]
Government plans to delay HS2 will cost the UK more in the long term, London business group warns March 9, 2023 Delaying the construction of HS2 to save money will cost the UK more in the long term, a London business group has warned after reports the government is set to announce further delays to the already over budget and overdue project. “Delaying construction of HS2 to save money is a false economy. Failing to invest [...]
Inflation surge pushes UK economy to edge of stagnation August 23, 2022 Brits reining in spending amid a historic inflation surge has steered the UK economy to the edge of “stagnation,” a closely watched survey released today shows. S&P Global’s flash composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which measures activity across the private sector, dropped to 50.9 this month, down from 52.1 in July. The figures indicate “the [...]