The new centre ground: The full text of Theresa May’s Conservative Party conference speech October 5, 2016 In the speech which closed the Conservative Party conference, Theresa May spoke of a country in transition, and new opportunities. The full 7,600 words is below – although if you'd rather a cut-down version, her best quotes are here – or you can read how businesses reacted. The new centre ground: May's speech in full When [...]
Starbucks serves up £8m in UK corporation tax after record results December 15, 2015 Starbucks served up £8m in corporation tax to the UK last year after brewing up £34.2m in pre-tax profits. The Seattle-based coffee chain has faced fierce criticism for paying minimal corporation tax since launching in Britain in 1998, after claiming to have never made a profit until last year. In its latest set of results, [...]
Nearly half of Brits would squander their wealth to make sure they qualify for council care cost coverage in their old age November 23, 2015 Almost half (43 per cent) of people would be willing to deliberately deplete their assets to make sure their council pays for their care in old age, according to figures released today from specialist insurer Partnership. By comparison, less than a quarter (23 per cent) said they would be prepared to do the same when asked [...]
Sharp downturn would spell trouble for nearly one million renters in London August 16, 2016 There's no housing safety net to catch almost one million renters in London should the economy turn sour, a report out today warns. Analysis by Royal London of government’s family resources survey data for 2013-14 – the most recent full set of figures the researchers had available to them – showed 5.5m working adults across [...]
Higher taxes and more debt are the only alternatives to real state pension reform October 13, 2016 Engineering an exit from the European Union will be the most significant administrative challenge faced by Whitehall since the Second World War. But ministers must resist the temptation to put the public service reform agenda on the backburner. The economic uncertainty created by June’s referendum means that driving efficiency is now more important than ever. [...]
Living wage is set to boost women’s pay September 3, 2015 Three in every 10 female employees in the country are set to receive pay rises due to the new minimum wage for over-25s, according to a report out today by independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. The measure, announced in July’s Budget, will initially be set at £7.20, 50p above the National Minimum Wage which [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: John Lewis and Sainsbury’s leaders meet with Treasury ministers over £8bn business rates burden November 10, 2015 The leaders of two of Britain’s biggest retailers have held talks with the government to demand for urgent reforms to the burdensome business rates regime ahead of the chancellor’s Autumn Statement. Sir Charlie Mayfield, the chairman of John Lewis Partnership, Sainsbury’s chief executive Mike Coupe, and Helen Dickinson, the director general of the British Retail Consortium [...]
Shares in Pets at Home slide as it warns of living wage cost November 24, 2015 Shares in Pets at Home closed down 2.3 per cent after the company warned of higher costs due to the introduction of the National Living Wage next year. The company, which has 405 shops as well as 353 veterinary practices and 191 grooming salons, said George Osborne's new wage of £7.20 per hour, which is being [...]
Business groups slam proposals for new £1000 annual tax on non-EU workers, saying levy will send message that UK is no longer open to international talent January 19, 2016 In a move that business groups say "sends a signal to the rest of the world that UK is not an attractive place to invest and do business", an expert committee has today recommended that the government tighten rules and impose a major new tax for employing non-EU migrant workers. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), a group of [...]
Nearly three per cent of UK workers have reported they are now on a zero-hours contract September 8, 2016 Almost three per cent of the UK's workforce has reported being employed on a zero-hours contract basis in their main job, according to new figures. Data released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the number of people on zero-hours contracts, which do not guarantee staff a certain number of hours' work, rose by [...]