Ed Warner: Sport must be proactive in protecting its stars from abuse December 23, 2021 If you see me reaching for the remote to watch BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2022, you know what to do. I was delighted that our gold medal winning GB Wheelchair Rugby team was nominated for the Team of the Year last weekend, alongside an illustrious bunch of trophy winners from other sports, [...]
Decade-high inflation print dials up pressure on Bank of England to hike rates December 15, 2021 Pressure on the Bank of England to hike rates is dialling up amid swelling energy bills causing inflation to skyrocket to its highest level in over a decade. The cost of living climbed to 5.1 per cent last month, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today, smashing analysts’ expectations and [...]
Two thirds businesses call for higher sick pay rate amid growing Omicron fears December 14, 2021 Nearly two thirds of employers have called for a rise in statutory sick pay (SSP) in the UK, according to a new report. The professional body for human resources behind the report, urged for major reforms to statuary sick pay after finding that 62 per cent of employers in the country think the rate, currently [...]
Sunak’s tax policy is trying to straddle two worlds and failing on both fronts December 9, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak seems to be in the midst of an identity crisis. After taking drastic measures to put the public finances on a sustainable footing in the wake of the pandemic, by raising the tax burden, he now wants to present himself as a tax cutting Tory. The problem is, he can’t be both. [...]
Top Bank of England rate setter warns inflation will breach five per cent soon December 6, 2021 A top rate setter at the Bank of England has today warned inflation will soar far above the Old Lady’s target and breach five per cent. Ben Broadbent, a deputy governor at the Bank, said in a speech in Leeds “in the spring of next year… [inflation] will probably climb comfortably through five per cent, [...]
Cocktail of headwinds freeze business confidence November 30, 2021 A cocktail of soaring inflation, ongoing staff shortages and looming tax hikes is leaving optimism about the UK economy among business leaders unstuck, according to new research published today. The Institute of Directors’ (IoD) economic confidence index, a closely watched survey taking the pulse of optimism among business leaders, remained unchanged at minus six in [...]
Mel Stride MP urges chancellor to slash taxes to ease cost of living crisis November 29, 2021 The chairman of an influential group of MPs that scrutinises the spending plans of the government has told Tory chancellor Rishi Sunak to slash taxes to ease the cost of living crisis looming over Brits. Speaking to the PA news agency, Conservative MP Mel Stride, who chairs the Treasury Committee, called on the chancellor to [...]
CBI chief: Spectre of inflation is ‘very real’ and larger than we thought November 22, 2021 The chief of the influential business group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned that inflation is “very real” and is threatening to squeeze British firms. Speaking at the CBI’s annual conference, the group’s director general Tony Danker warned that pay hikes will “spill over” into prices, intensifying the cost of living crisis pinching [...]
Swelling energy bills propel inflation to 4.2 per cent, more than double Bank of England’s target November 17, 2021 Swelling household energy bills have propelled inflation to more than double the Bank of England’s target, dialling up pressure on the Old Lady to act to hose down red-hot price rises. Inflation scaled to 4.2 per cent in October, up sharply from 3.1 per cent in the previous month, according to the Office for National [...]
Lidl to become UK’s highest-paying supermarket in £18m wage investment November 17, 2021 Lidl is set to become the UK’s highest-paying supermarket after it said it would invest £18m in wages. Entry-level wages are to increase £10.85 to £11.30 in London from March 2022 while new starters outside the capital will see wages hike from £9.50 to £10.10. Lidl colleagues are also to earn up to £12.25 in [...]