Public ‘expect’ council staff to work full five-day week, Michael Gove says July 4, 2023 Michael Gove has said people “expect” council staff to be working a full five-day week, amid a row over the government telling a local authority to cease a four-day week trial. The levelling up secretary has said he is a “strong believer” in the rule that council employees should be working Monday to Friday. It [...]
Families facing ‘groundhog year’ in 2023 as living standards to be squeezed December 30, 2022 Families are facing a “groundhog year” as further squeezes on living standards take place in 2023, a think-tank has warned. While the year ahead may offer economic policymakers some relief, with signs inflation will ease and interest rates peak lower than feared, family finances face a repeat of 2022’s squeeze as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, [...]
Londoners, here’s how much your council tax will be rising in April March 9, 2024 Councils are officially able to increase their tax rates by 4.99 per cent, but those with government permission are able to increase their residents’ bills by over 5 per cent.
Soaring inflation burns hole in councils’ finances, LGA finds June 28, 2022 Rampant inflation is burning a hole in the finances of English and Welsh councils and may force them to trim public services without more funding, reveals a fresh report published today. Rising energy costs caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine lifting European gas prices and an uplift to the national living wage will heap an [...]
Pubs raise a glass to Hunt’s alcohol duty freeze and rates relief November 22, 2023 The UK's struggling pub sector has said it was "extremely pleased" with the news that alcohol duty will be frozen and business rates relief has been extended.
2023 set to be just as ‘horrendous’ as 2022 with falling pay and soaring energy bills December 30, 2022 Next year looks set to be just as “horrendous” for many families’ living standards as this year, as they are hit with falling pay and soaring energy, tax and mortgage bills, a think tank has warned. Households face a cost-of-living “groundhog year” with disposable incomes plummeting even further than in 2022, which saw the biggest [...]
Sunak defends “progressive” UK tax system June 10, 2023 Rishi Sunak has insisted the UK’s tax system is “very progressive” as he brushed off questions about his own financial affairs. The Prime Minister paid an effective rate of around 22% on his substantial income because the majority came from capital gains rather than earnings. But Mr Sunak insisted the tax system was fair for [...]
After four holds in a row, when will the Bank of England cut interest rates? February 1, 2024 Policymakers did not answer this question directly, but they did give some guidance as to the factors at play.
Bank of England interest rate cuts on a knife edge as wage growth comes in hot May 14, 2024 The figures are the first in a series of data releases that will determine whether the Bank of England is able to cut interest rates in June.
Revealed: Matalan lost over £100m as lenders took control March 6, 2024 Matalan lost more than £100m in the year it was taken over by its lenders, newly-filed accounts have revealed.