It’s open season on banks again November 26, 2013 BANKERS faced a series of fresh attacks yesterday, as Labour pushed for tougher licences for bankers and the chancellor opened the door to harsher lending controls. Labour won a vote in the House of Lords last night to force bankers to face regular checkups from regulators, and risk losing their licence if they do not [...]
Letters to the Editor – 03/12 – Heathrow noise, Autumn Statement, Best of Twitter December 2, 2013 Heathrow noise [Re: Our innovative Heathrow plan could expand capacity without huge costs, Friday] It’s not clear to me that the author’s suggestions would limit the number of additional residents affected by Heathrow expansion, or merely dump even more noise on to those of us who already suffer. When the inspector gave the go-ahead for [...]
Letters to the Editor – 20/11 – Stamp duty, India rising, Best of Twitter November 19, 2013 Stamp duty [Re: Calls grow for tax cut policies, Monday] The call from the Free Enterprise Group to scrap stamp duty on homes worth less than £500,000 highlights the growing frustration with Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). Previously, it was simply an admin charge; now, it is a revenue-generating tax. This changed emphasis has a [...]
UK needs to be HS2 ready says Lord Deighton October 23, 2013 A growth taskforce led by Lord Deighton has said towns and cities across the UK need to be "HS2 ready." The taskforce has made the claim that the controversial project is a once in a generation chance change the face of the country. Commercial secretary and HS2 Growth taskforce chair Lord Deighton said on Wednesday: [...]
Cameron will delay the Autumn Statement to lead visit to China November 12, 2013 PRIME Minister David Cameron has announced a major trade visit to China, pushing back the timing of the chancellor’s Autumn Statement. Speaking at the annual Lord Mayor’s banquet last night, Cameron said that he would be leading an official visit to China, accompanied by UK business chiefs early next month. Though he did not confirm [...]
St James’s Place sees assets rise despite shift in pension tax policy October 24, 2013 NEW PENSIONS business at wealth manager St James’s Place (SJP) fell last quarter amid looming government changes to pension tax policy. Sales fell four per cent versus a year ago on the back of changes proposed by chancellor George Osborne to reduce the limit on how much well-heeled savers can put into a pension pot [...]
So will Andrew Bailey be the lord of the ring (fence)? – Inside Track August 27, 2014 It is surprisingly easy to find bankers with positive things to say about Andrew Bailey, their chief regulator. By the end of the year, though, he could find that it isn’t only the weather that feels chillier whenever he meets bank executives. Already, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) consultation on a new accountability regime [...]
FTSE chairman Gareth Davis tells us why he’s in no rush to retire March 17, 2014 Serial chairman and former tobacco boss Gareth Davis tells Elizabeth Fournier how he juggles three FTSE-listed firms THE ROLE of a company chairman is a tricky one. As head of the board, a good chair is expected to lead from the front; hiring, firing and managing its members, while keeping one eye on governance and [...]
Business bosses call for end to dithering on new runway plan November 19, 2013 DISGRUNTLED bosses have urged politicians to end their prolonged “dithering” on expanding Britain’s airports or face losing business to countries willing to allow more runways. More than a hundred corporate heads and business groups have signed the campaign to “Let Britain Fly”, which is backed by London First, the British Chambers of Commerce and the [...]
Shadow cabinet wants EU vote August 22, 2013 Frontbench figures in the Labour party are pushing Ed Miliband to change the party’s position on an EU referendum and back it at their conference in September, according to the Financial Times. Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, and Lord Wood, an adviser of Miliband’s, are said to back the policy change. Jon Cruddas, who is [...]