Defeat for women in landmark state pension legal fight October 3, 2019 Millions of women face the prospect of retiring later or surviving on less, after campaigners lost a significant legal battle against the government over increases to the state pension age. Nearly 4m women born in the 1950s were hit by the government’s decision to bring the retirement age for them up from 60 to 65, [...]
Government rubbishes Hammond’s hedge fund Brexit conspiracy theory September 30, 2019 The government has hit back at aBrexit conspiracy theory that Boris Johnson is colluding with currency traders by forcing a no-deal Brexit, claiming Labour is causing greater yet market uncertainty. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell demanded answers from the Conservatives, after former chancellor Philip Hammond wrote an article for The Times which claimed that speculators had [...]
How finance can help forge a cleaner future for all November 5, 2021 This article first appeared in ICAS’ CA magazine. Finance can help forge a cleaner future for all, and the contribution of accountants will prove essential, says James Alexander, CEO of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association Earlier this year, the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) celebrated its 30th birthday by publishing its policy [...]
The Budget didn’t deliver a silver bullet for youth unemployment, but it’s a start March 4, 2021 This pandemic has drawn lines in society dividing outcomes by age, health condition, geography and job types, none more so than the negative economic consequences of Covid-19 for young people as they lose out on education, jobs, career progression and pay. Youth unemployment is currently around 13 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels and, according [...]
IoD Chief Economist Kitty Ussher on how the UK can balance the books January 11, 2022 This article first appeared in ICAS’ CA magazine. We emerge from the pandemic with cautious optimism – and a huge fiscal hangover. How do we balance the books and what role can CAs play in supporting the economy’s nascent recovery? IoD Chief Economist Kitty Ussher shares her thoughts Kitty Ussher is sitting in a meeting room at the [...]
Pensions industry veteran Chris Curry to lead delivery group for dashboard scheme June 3, 2019 A Whitehall initiative designed to give savers easy access to pensions information has taken another step towards hitting the market. Read more: Amber Rudd gives pensions dashboard the go ahead The Money and Pensions Service has appointed industry veteran Chris Curry to help deliver the so called pensions dashboard. He will be tasked with forming [...]
A catch-up strategy? How Government can give young Brits a boost in Budget 2021 February 26, 2021 A catch-up strategy? How Government can give young Brits a boost in Budget 2021
Business bodies slam government’s TfL bailout conditions as a ‘mockery’ October 21, 2020 London business bodies have slammed the government’s demands for a potential bailout for Transport for London (TfL) as a “mockery”, accusing ministers of “railroading” policy through while the transport network is on its knees during the pandemic. Ministers last night threatened to take direct control of TfL unless London mayor Sadiq Khan accepts a raft [...]
Government urges firms to hire under-25s through free ‘kickstart’ scheme September 2, 2020 UK companies can offer six-month work placements to young people – with wages paid entirely by the government – under the “kickstart” scheme launched today. The government urged businesses to sign up and “take advantage of the enormous pool of potential out there”. It warned that young people “could otherwise be left behind as a [...]
Amber Rudd resigns from Cabinet and quits Tories over ‘culling’ of rebel MPs September 8, 2019 Amber Rudd has resigned from Cabinet and given up the Tory whip in protest at Boris Johnson’s decision to sack more than 20 Conservatives who backed a bill to block a no-deal Brexit. The former work and pensions secretary said she could not “stand by as good, loyal moderate Conservatives are expelled”. Rudd told the [...]