Pubs face ‘double whammy’ of tax hikes as hundreds call last orders for good September 23, 2024 Around 50 pubs per month ‘vanished’ from England and Wales in the first half of the year as hospitality struggled with costs and tax rates. The overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell to 39,096 at the end of the first half of 2024, down [...]
AI companies are racing to rescue the NHS September 23, 2024 An official review by Lord Darzi revealed recently that the NHS is in “critical condition” following years of underfunding. The review found that the NHS is battling soaring demand, poor productivity, financial pressures and low staff morale. “It’s not just the state of our National Health Service in crisis – it’s also the state of [...]
Meet the fund managers: Biotech investing under the microscope September 23, 2024 In this weekly series, investment reporter Elliot Gulliver-Needham sits down with a fund manager for a Q&A. This week, we’re hearing from Ailsa Craig, co-portfolio manager of International Biotechnology Trust. How does your fund stand out from others in the same market? While many companies in the biotechnology sector are proven, cash-generating businesses, those at [...]
The Notebook: On the lookout for common sense at Labour Party Conference September 23, 2024 As Labour Party Conference kicks off, Matthew Elliott lays out what he is on the lookout for (including his favourite Liverpool pub).
Reeves to strike positive tone in Party Conference speech September 23, 2024 Rachel Reeves is set to promise a Budget that will “rebuild Britain” in a speech at the Labour Party Conference that will claim that the “work of change has only just begun”. In a notably more optimistic tone than Labour has adopted in recent weeks, the Chancellor will vow to deliver a “Britain of opportunity, [...]
‘Spoonful of sugar’ to come with Budget medicine, Labour mayor suggests September 21, 2024 A Labour mayor has said he thinks there will be “a spoonful of sugar along with the medicine” in the Budget next month. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, told the PA news agency he believes economic growth will be delivered “through our combined authorities and through devolution”, but it could be “very [...]
UK economy: After a busy week, the foundations look solid September 20, 2024 With inflation low and further rate cuts to come the UK economy remains on relatively solid foundations.
Use Budget to urgently review UK’s tax system, accountants urge Reeves September 20, 2024 Rachel Reeves should use the Budget next month to urgently review the UK’s tax system, including business rates and VAT, a chartered accountants group has urged. The Chancellor has been called on to set out the government’s plans to reform business rates, VAT and employment status by the end of the year in the fiscal [...]
Two-year mortgage rates fall as markets brace for future interest rate cuts September 20, 2024 Two-year mortgage deals are becoming increasingly competitive as rates continue to fall faster than longer-term deals.
Retail sales smash expectations despite a drop in consumer confidence September 20, 2024 Retail sales in the UK blew past expectations in August, climbing to their highest level since July 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Sales were up one per cent compared to the previous month, beating analysts’ predictions of a 0.4 per cent rise. The increase builds on July’s return to growth, which [...]