Business groups urge PM to make good on tax cuts October 2, 2013 DAVID Cameron must make good on his defence of the free market by cutting taxes and boosting investment in the economy, business groups warned yesterday. The Prime Minister used the final day of the Conservative party conference in Manchester to deliver a rhetroic-heavy speech in defence of free markets, attempting to define the next election [...]
There will be more Putins – and more Flight MH17s – if Europe fails to act now July 21, 2014 “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” – The Wizard in L Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz In her able, forthright way, Hillary Clinton has just painfully called Europe’s bluff. Speaking just after the horrific details of the Malaysian plane disaster became clear – where it looks increasingly likely that murderously clueless [...]
Ed Miliband to ban energy price rises for two years September 24, 2013 Ed Miliband today said he would make it illegal for energy companies to increase the price they charge for gas or electricity during the first 20 months of a Labour government. All UK homes and businesses would benefit from the move, which Labour believes would cost major energy companies £4.5bn. Miliband will also commit to [...]
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 [...]
Miliband’s swipe at landlords is no comfort for UK renters April 30, 2014 THE UK’s housing crisis is no secret, and political solutions are offered two a penny. Unfortunately, Ed Miliband’s plan to limit rents is perhaps the one thing that can be relied upon to make the situation worse for Britain’s renters. Like any price ceiling, Labour’s pledge will reduce available supply, as rents are capped below [...]
Greece may start issuing bonds again, but its economy is still shattered April 9, 2014 The Greek government looks set to return to bond markets this week, after a four-year absence – its last issue for seven-year bonds was in the first quarter of 2010, a couple of months ahead of the bailout that locked it out of markets. But earlier this year, finance minister Yannis Stournaras laid out a [...]
Why it’s time to focus on the real cause of the housing crisis April 7, 2014 THE housing crisis in London and its commuter belt can be blamed on one simple problem: there is an under-supply of property. All of the other explanations – interest rates remain low, the impact of quantitative easing or the government’s ridiculous help to buy subsidies – are merely secondary. It is certainly not the case [...]
Just three reforms would transform UK recovery into long-term boom April 22, 2014 WHISPER it, but things finally seem to be looking up. Investment is rising, unemployment is falling, and the deficit seems to be coming under control. But it could be a lot better. Real wages will not recover to their pre-crisis peak until 2020. And expected growth of 2.7 per cent this year is well below [...]
Just three reforms would transform UK recovery into long-term boom April 22, 2014 WHISPER it, but things finally seem to be looking up. Investment is rising, unemployment is falling, and the deficit seems to be coming under control. But it could be a lot better. Real wages will not recover to their pre-crisis peak until 2020. And expected growth of 2.7 per cent this year is well below [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 14 October 2013 October 13, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Tory plan to raise allowance to £12,500 Senior Conservative politicians are drawing up plans to raise the personal tax allowance to £12,500 as a key election pledge in 2015. Top party officials believe the move will enable the Tories to claim they are tackling the cost of living crisis by taking low earners [...]