David Cameron gives Vince Cable and Nick Clegg the hard shoulder to take credit for “roads revolution” December 1, 2014 Usually the most exciting thing you see on the side of Britain’s A roads is a trailer selling strawberries for 50p and the odd squashed badger. However, yesterday was a different story as our top politicians were loitering in roadside ditches – all taking credit for a £15bn road-building scheme. Who was part of this [...]
My challenge to the chancellor: Be brave – CNBC December 1, 2014 LIONEL Richie’s “Nothing Left To Give” is a tune George Osborne might be humming as he racks his brains over what to unveil in his Autumn Statement tomorrow. Or maybe “If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time” by R Kelly will be stuck in his head, if he recalls the more favourable fiscal [...]
Pork barrel spending and political gimmicks: Autumn Statement 2014 December 1, 2014 ONE HUNDRED and fifty five. That’s the really significant number for those following tomorrow’s Autumn Statement. It’s nothing to do with how much the UK government is borrowing. In fact, it’s the number of days until the general election. If early indications are anything to go by, the Statement will be packed full of small [...]
“All in this together” takes a back seat as “long term economic plan” and immigration top odds on Osborne’s most likely Autumn Statement phrases December 1, 2014 Are we all in this together? Not any more. The phrase beloved by Cameron and Co has fallen to its longest odds yet when it comes to the likelihood of it appearing in this year’s Autumn Statement at 4/1. It looks like the Conservatives' long-term economic plan is still on track, though, with Ladbrokes giving [...]
George Osborne puts his money on roadbuilding and reveals Stonehenge tunnel plans November 30, 2014 Chancellor George Osborne will today unveil plans to build a tunnel under historic landmark Stonehenge, as he sets out how £15bn will be spent to overhaul British roads. The announcement marks the end of a long-running battle for a tunnel at the site, after plans were dropped seven years ago because of cost. Deputy prime [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: £2bn cash boost for NHS is not enough, says Labour November 30, 2014 Chancellor George Osborne announced a £2bn boost to NHS spending yesterday, ahead of formal plans which will be set out in the Autumn Statement. However, Labour hit back almost immediately, arguing that the extra cash is nowhere near enough to plug a hole in the healthcare budget. Speaking on the Andrew Marr show yesterday the [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: George Osborne could pull a small rabbit out of the hat November 30, 2014 STAMP DUTY George Osborne could choose to reform stamp duty on Wednesday – a crowd-pleasing policy that wouldn’t have to hit Treasury coffers hard. The most likely option for the chancellor would be to change the slab-like structure of the tax by only charging a higher rate on the amount spent over each threshold, rather [...]
Chancellor warns of few sweeteners in Autumn Statement – London Week Ahead November 30, 2014 THE AUTUMN Statement on Wednesday will be the highlight of the business week, although chancellor George Osborne has already warned the government can not afford sweeteners to potential voters as it is too behind on its deficit target. Osborne told the BBC Andrew Marr show yesterday there would be “no unfunded giveaways.” Manufacturing, construction and [...]
NHS: George Osborne to promise an extra £2bn of funding November 30, 2014 Chancellor George Osborne is expected use his Autumn statement on Wednesday to announce an extra £2bn funding for frontline NHS services. It is anticipated that Osborne will pledge extra funding from April next year, according to the BBC. In a speech to parliament on Wednesday, when he will deliver exact details on its [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: Treasury rules out cut to tourism VAT November 25, 2014 The Treasury has ruled out a cut to tourism VAT in the Autumn Statement next week, despite a campaign to slash the rate paid by tourist attractions and hotels around the UK. The Cut Tourism VAT campaign, backed by Merlin Entertainments, the British Hospitality Association and a number of MPs from all parties, has called [...]