Spring Budget 2017: Junior barristers could be badly hit by hike in national insurance March 9, 2017 Those trying to make a name for themselves in the courts have been dealt a blow by the impending hike in national insurance. Chancellor Philip Hammond revealed in his maiden Budget yesterday that the class 4 National Insurance rate would be increased by one percentage point to 10 per cent from April 2018, and then [...]
Budget 2017 UK predictions: What you can expect from the chancellor’s Spring Budget March 7, 2017 It's that time of year again: the chancellor is getting set to dust off his little red box and deliver the Spring Budget. It's the last one we'll see at this time of year, as Philip Hammond decided to move the major announcements to an Autumn Statement schedule. It's likely to be a more staid [...]
EU referendum: Business titans clash over the value of the single market to British industry May 26, 2016 Business figures have clashed over the value of the single market to British industry, at a crunch EU referendum debate hosted by Ladbrokes at the Institute of Directors. The former head of the British Chambers of Commerce and the president of the Confederation of British Industry crossed swords at the event last night. The panel also included [...]
Ministers probe plan to cut NI contributions for firms recruiting ex-offenders February 27, 2017 Ministers are exploring whether firms should be offered financial incentives to recruit ex-offenders. Options being considered include reducing National Insurance contributions if employers take on former prisoners. The plans emerged as part of the government's response to a report from the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which calls on ministers to provide more support to ex-offenders. Read More: Ex-migration chief [...]
George Osborne rated as a natural leader by just two per cent of the British public, according to survey May 25, 2016 Just two per cent of Britons believe that chancellor George Osborne is a natural leader, and just over one in 10 believe he would be up to succeeding David Cameron as Prime Minister. The public slammed Osborne in a survey by YouGov for the Times, which revealed the chancellor's ratings contrast poorly with that of former London mayor Boris Johnson. [...]
EU referendum: This cabinet minister is the latest to warn of Brexit’s “economic rupture” April 17, 2016 The new work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb is the latest cabinet minister to warn of the dangers of Britain leaving the EU. He said Brexit would create an "economic rupture" with jobs lost and businesses closed, undoing the progress made since the financial crisis. “When those who want Britain to leave the EU complacently wave away [...]
Pound falls after Iain Duncan Smith quits and sparks rumours of Tory civil war March 21, 2016 The pound was hit this morning after Iain Duncan Smith dramatically quit the government on Friday. Sterling fell by almost one cent against the US dollar, hitting a low of $1.4377. It also fell against the euro, dropping 0.4 per cent to €1.2803. "A bit of internal party bickering doesn’t normally impact Sterling but this [...]
Theresa May’s cabinet reshuffle: Who’s in? Who’s out? Everything you need to know July 13, 2016 Theresa May has announced the big positions in her cabinet today after taking helm as Britain's first female Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher. She also created new positions to lead Britain's upcoming negotiations with the European Union. Who's in? Who's out? Here's everything you need to know: David Davis appointed head of Brexit Key Brexit campaigner David Davis [...]
Budget 2016: John McDonnell says George Osborne should withdraw his Budget as Prime Minister David Cameron stands by the chancellor March 21, 2016 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has warned that the Budget process is in "absolute chaos" as the government has withdrawn a large part of the Budget and accepted two opposition amendments before the end of the third day of the budget debate. Speaking in the House of Commons, McDonnell asked if the chancellor would make a statement on [...]
Iain Duncan Smith: “Immigration is the economy, stupid.” May 31, 2016 Former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has warned that unchecked immigration will hit both wages and the affordability of homes as a new report has forecast that almost half a million refugees could arrive in the UK from 2020 onwards. According to a report from lobbying group Migration Watch, up to 968,000 of the 1.7m refugees already in [...]