Why attacking billionaires doesn’t help the poor January 17, 2017 Oxfam was founded nearly 75 years ago with the noble aim of preventing war-time governments from blocking the provision of urgently needed supplies to Europe’s suffering civilians. On top of the horrors of war, the world was a far more harsh and impoverished place back then. Globally, nearly 24 per cent of infants failed to reach [...]
Britain is an oasis of calm amid Europe’s political chaos February 24, 2017 In a fit of pique at the Brexit vote, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told MEPs last July that Britain had “collapsed – politically, economically, monetarily and constitutionally”. Embarrassingly for him, events have proven otherwise, with the UK posting the strongest growth in the G7 in the final quarter of 2016, the Bank of England still [...]
The government really wants more people to cycle and walk to work – so it’s investing £64m to encourage them January 26, 2017 The government is keen to see people get their Lycra on and get pedalling. Transport Minister Andrew Jones has announced £64m will go towards encouraging people to cycle and walk, supporting local projects over the next three years. It forms part of a wider government package of more than £300m to boost walking and cycling [...]
The government’s assault on buy-to-let landlords is hurting tenants February 10, 2017 The bill for the government’s misguided war on buy-to-let is coming due. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said yesterday that rents are likely to rise by 25 per cent over the next five years, outpacing house price growth, as landlords pare back their portfolios and tenants are left to fight over a diminishing supply [...]
The government must relax visa rules to safeguard our tech boom February 20, 2017 The UK digital technology sector is emerging as a global force. A record £6.7bn was invested in UK tech firms in 2016, more than any other European country. In contrast, the automotive sector received £1.66bn in investment. This record boom means the sector already accounts for 16 per cent of domestic output compared with 10 per [...]
London firms demand goverment support to shore up business confidence in 2017 January 4, 2017 London businesses are demanding new government support to shore up confidence through an uncertain 2017. With Prime Minister Theresa May expected to trigger Article 50 before the end of March, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry argues firms have handled the initial shock of Brexit. However, following its latest Quarterly Economic Survey, it has [...]
Optimism at two-year high ahead of Brexit for UK manufacturers as domestic demand drives morale up January 25, 2017 A boom in domestic demand has boosted optimism among British manufacturers to increase at its fastest pace for two years ahead of Brexit, according to a survey of UK businesses. More than a quarter of manufacturing firms are optimistic for prospects for the year ahead, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), outweighing negative [...]
There’s no need for Treasury giveaways to help the just about managing March 6, 2017 On the steps of Downing Street, Theresa May outlined the core of her political strategy: “If you are just about managing, I want to address you directly”. The just about managing – the so-called JAMs – saw their cost of living significantly squeezed in the aftermath of the financial crisis, and it is indeed vital that [...]
Randgold Resources is set to post record results from its flagship Mali mine, but an “illegal sit-in” halts production at another January 30, 2017 Randgold Resources said its flagship Loulo-Gounkoto gold mining complex in Mali expects to report record production for the fourth quarter of 2016 to top off an already good year. Chief executive Mark Bristow told the press today the company was on track to report it had exceeded its production guidance of 670,000 ounces of gold for 2016 and will [...]
New in-depth study finds apprenticeship levy is little more than a stealth tax and could distort training schemes January 31, 2017 The apprenticeship levy, a flagship government scheme intended to boost the training of young people, has been slammed as little more than a stealth tax following a damning new report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) which found it represents “poor value for money”. The levy will apply to all businesses with a payroll [...]