Slashing Brussels red tape could save €41bn October 14, 2014 A group charged with cutting EU red tape has recommended small businesses be exempted "wherever possible" from burdensome regulation. The group claims the measures could save €41bn per year. The exemptions would apply primarily to laws concerning health and safety and social policy. The 15-member group on Administrative Burdens' report is non-binding but was unveiled [...]
European Commission approves EDF’s Hinkley Point nuclear plant project October 8, 2014 The European Commission has approved EDF's £16bn nuclear plant project Hinkley Point after revised plans were submitted that brought it “in line with EU state aid rules”. The body approved the plans after the UK government agreed to “significantly modify the terms of the project financing”, it announced this morning. Under the revisions, the [...]
The growing problem of obesity: Almost half the global population will be overweight by 2030 November 20, 2014 The world is eating more and doing less. The result? Our waistlines are rapidly expanding. In fact, almost half the world will be overweight or obese by 2030 if we allow our self-indulgence to continue along its current trajectory. According to a report by McKinsey, 2.1bn people fall into the “overweight” category, which [...]
As the public finances deteriorated in August, has Osborne given up on tackling the deficit? September 23, 2014 Scott Corfe, senior economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, says Yes. One of the great myths of the current parliament is that it has been dominated by austerity. The figures show that this clearly isn’t the case. The government is struggling to get the deficit down. Borrowing in the fiscal year to [...]
Platini’s historic accord inflicts major blow to FFP opponents October 14, 2014 LEGAL challenges to football’s financial fair play rules have been dealt a “possibly fatal wound” after the European Commission yesterday signed an unprecedented cooperation agreement with governing body Uefa. The controversial regulations saw Premier League champions Manchester City fined £49m this year and have prompted outcry from some clubs, as well as two separate court [...]
Corporate bonds are the target as ECB makes move October 21, 2014 THE EUROPEAN Central Bank is considering buying corporate bonds on the secondary market and may decide on the matter as soon as December with a view to begin purchases early next year, several sources familiar with the situation have told Reuters. European shares rallied on the news, led by banks and shares in peripheral countries. [...]
Cameron has given up on NHS reform – and has put the health service at risk October 13, 2014 THE NHS costs £110bn a year in England alone, amounting to around 7 per cent of GDP. It employs more than 1.3m people, and its success or failure touches all of our lives, while indirectly affecting the strength of every business. So it matters that, as reported yesterday, the government now sees its NHS policy [...]
Drop the guarantee on bank deposits to boost competition in finance November 24, 2014 AS NORTHERN Rock began to crumble in the autumn of 2007, then chancellor Alistair Darling stepped in to stave off a bank run by guaranteeing all existing deposits. To some extent, it worked: queues outside Northern Rock branches soon dissipated. But deposit insurance has since been raised dramatically for authorised banks and building societies, and [...]
Economic warfare between the West and Russia only punishes the guiltless September 30, 2014 INCREASINGLY, I am receiving requests for legal support from Russian and Western individuals and businesses who are suffering from the economic sanctions imposed by the West on Russia, and from Russia’s counter-measures. The legality of these sanctions is dubious at best. They flagrantly violate the free trade principles enshrined in the World Trade Organisation treaty [...]
Ed Miliband’s conference speech: Here’s what you need to know September 23, 2014 Ed Miliband has delivered his last speech to a Labour conference before the 2015 general election. The Labour leader hopes his six-point plan will be enough to entice voters to give his party the keys to Downing Street and reverse his low personal ratings. The plan is intended to be implemented over 10 years. Here [...]