Khan: Tourist tax-free shopping u-turn bad for London’s businesses October 18, 2022 Sadiq Khan has slammed the government’s decision to u-turn on a plan to give tourists tax-free shopping. The Mayor of London said he “absolutely” shared the concerns of West End businesses, who have expressed disappointment that the capital will lag behind other cities’ in efforts to welcome high-spending foreign visitors. “VAT-free shopping for international tourists [...]
Big Bang 2.0: Financial institutions welcome Jeremy Hunt’s Edinburgh reforms December 10, 2022 Leading financial institutions have welcomed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Edinburgh reforms, which set out to “turbocharge” the UK’s growth. Announced yesterday, the plans aim to “seize the benefits of Brexit” by delivering the biggest shake-up in the financial sector for 30 years. According to UK Finance’s chief executive David Postings, the package is “a major step [...]
Rishi Sunak: City should show ‘restraint’ on pay – but no u-turn on banker bonuses November 15, 2022 Rishi Sunak said Britain’s top business bosses needed to show ‘restraint’ on pay this year amid inflation concerns. “In a situation like this, I’m sure executives of most companies will be thinking about pay settlements for senior management, for their workers, and making sure they are fair,” the Prime Minister told broadcasters whilst in Bali [...]
Supermarkets behaving badly: Asda and Morrisons bosses back ‘transparent’ fuel pricing model June 27, 2023 Supermarkets bosses have been grilled by MPs on prices at the pump and agreed to consider entering into a fuel model which would give more transparency. The government has been mulling a scheme whereby petrol stations would have to share live prices in efforts to bring more price transparency for drivers – a similar system [...]
Travel sector calls on Chancellor to ensure industry’s recovery in next week’s Budget November 11, 2022 The travel sector has called on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to ensure the industry can “recover and thrive” as the UK gets ready for next week’s Autumn Statement. “Getting the right tax and policy framework would see travel businesses continue to build on a decent summer, paving the way for strong recovery, which would support jobs, [...]
OECD: UK predicted to perform worst of all G20 economies… except Russia March 17, 2023 The UK’s economy is expected to perform the worst out of any Group of 20 (G20) economies apart from Russia this year and next, new analysis has suggested. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said that it expects a 0.2 per cent fall in UK gross domestic product (GDP) this year, followed by [...]
Britain’s ‘science superpower’ ambition will mean nothing if we don’t upgrade our labs February 12, 2024 The UK's scientists are world-leading, but their research will be held back if we don't upgrade our lab spaces and infrastructure, writes Orestis Tzortzoglou.
Claim of supermarkets profiteering doesn’t pass ‘basic smell test,’ says former Sainsbury’s boss June 21, 2023 The former boss of Sainsbury’s has roundly rejected claims that British supermarkets are profiteering during the cost of living crisis, arguing that the government and regulators should focus on helping those in need instead of considering “interfering in markets”. “This idea that [supermarkets] are somehow profiteering in these circumstances… it doesn’t even pass a basic [...]
Hunt mini-budget overhaul right for now but investment relief needed, Thatcherites urge October 19, 2022 New chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s decision to junk pretty much all of prime minister Liz Truss’s botched mini-budget has damaged the UK’s tax competitiveness, a new report out today says. Britain has dropped to 33rd out of the 38 nations part of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a result of Hunt’s tax [...]
Why does the Bank of England (secretly) want to sack you? To hose down the inflation fire March 14, 2023 Whisper it very, very softly, but the Bank of England (secretly) is trying to force you out of the job. That’s right. Governor Andrew Bailey wants to toss you to the wolves in the name of the fight against inflation. That’s overegging it. No one is directly trying to make someone else unemployed. A kernel [...]