Autumn Statement 2014: George Osborne prepares for battle ahead of crunch announcement December 2, 2014 George Osborne met military personnel yesterday ahead of the Autumn Statement, one of the most important fiscal announcements of his term in office. The chancellor is widely expected to have a crowd-pleasing announcement up his sleeve, following leaks this week about infrastructure spending, flood defences and housebuilding. Possible measures include stamp duty reform or raising [...]
Autumn Statement 2014 predictions: What to watch out for December 2, 2014 WHO: GEORGE OSBORNE WHEN: 12.30 TODAY WHERE: HOUSE OF COMMONS WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW £2bn cash injection for NHS The NHS will receive an extra £2bn in funding, £1.3bn from departmental savings and £700k from the existing health budget. There will also be a £15m dementia fund £2.3bn for flood defences Extra money for [...]
Autumn Statement 2014 quiz: By George! What’s Osborne been up to? December 2, 2014 As the chancellor takes centre stage today to tell us how he plans to move the Treasury’s kitty about in the Autumn Statement, we take a look at some of his best moments over the last few months – but what exactly is he up to? Is it A, B or C? 1) A. [...]
George Osborne announces £1bn boost for small businesses ahead of the Autumn Statement December 2, 2014 George Osborne has announced a lending package worth nearly £1bn for the UK's small and medium-sized businesses ahead of tomorrow's Autumn Statement. The Treasury will give £400m to expand Enterprise Capital Funds, which invests in fast-growing small and medium size enterprises. It will also guarantee up to £500m of new bank lending to these kind [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: Forget a new fiscal rule – George Osborne should beef up the Office for Budget Responsibility to ensure real prudence December 2, 2014 George Osborne has made his name with a commitment to fiscal prudence, backed up by tough cuts to public services. In today’s Autumn Statement, he is expected to reinforce that reputation by announcing a formal target, backed by law, to eliminate the current structural deficit by 2017-18, a year earlier than previously forecast. There are [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: Fun for all the family – interactive Osborne bingo December 2, 2014 As George Osborne prepares to deliver his final Autumn Statement before next year’s general election, City A.M. is focusing on the important questions – will this be another one for “hard-working families”? Or is it just “ordinary people” he wants to help this year? We’ve put his favourite phrases into our chancellor-o-matic to create Autumn [...]
Autumn Statement 2014 round-up: What we know and what to expect December 2, 2014 It is well known that chancellors use their autumn statements to win favor with the electorate and set a policy minefield for the opposition, and this year is shaping up to be no exception. Ever the strategist, George Osborne will look to announce measures to win over key voters and promote the government's message on [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: Here’s every single one of the chancellor’s “roads revolution” projects mapped December 2, 2014 Yesterday various politicians were dispatched to stand on hard shoulders and squint at maps as the government announced a £15bn plan to revitalise the nation's roads. The plan, which stretches from 2015-2021, includes a commitment to spend £3bn on new projects, with £6bn ringfenced for maintenance. It covers a £1.5bn scheme to improve the A14 [...]
Northern Ireland eyes up new corporation tax powers as government concern over Scotland’s demands grows December 1, 2014 The coalition is embroiled in last-minute talks to determine whether Northern Ireland can be granted the power to set its own rate of corporation tax. Chancellor George Osborne is keen to signal his support for the move in tomorrow’s Autumn Statement, yet the government has been held back by concerns that Scottish leaders would subsequently demand the [...]
London housing estates to get overhaul in £150m pledge with Aylesbury and Blackwall Reach expected to be named December 1, 2014 A shortlist of London housing estates in the running for regeneration is to be announced by ministers today, as part of a £150m scheme. The estates will be named ahead of the Autumn Statement as part of a pledge first announced in the Budget earlier this year. The Aylesbury estate in Southwark is expected to [...]