Anti-business? The Labour Party’s real problem is that it’s anti-market February 9, 2015 The war of words between Boots and the Labour Party has led to much political soul-searching. The salient question seems to be: “is Labour anti-business?” This is not particularly interesting. “Business”, after all, is not some homogenous entity. Many claim to be the “voice of business,” but the loudest tend to be those representing the [...]
General Election 2015: The key battlegrounds – CNBC Comment February 9, 2015 The state of the UK economy compared to how it was five years ago, and when compared to the EU at the moment, is impressive. Fragile, but impressive nonetheless. And the Coalition should be commended for that. But let’s make one thing clear: one of the main reasons this has been achieved is that the [...]
Ed Balls talks business: Markets alone won’t deliver for the UK, says shadow chancellor February 9, 2015 It's been a bit of a bruising few days for those in the Labour Party charged with finessing its relationship with the UK’s top business leaders. But that won’t stop Ed Balls relishing the prospect of speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce’s annual conference tomorrow in front of hundreds of business leaders. [...]
General Election 2015: Poll suggests Conservatives are in the lead February 9, 2015 With just three months to go before the general election, analysts are still unable to place a firm prediction on who will come out on top. It has been been described as the least predictable general election in British history, and most recent polls have placed the Conservatives and Labour roughly neck and [...]
George Osborne sets sights on pensioner votes with extension of 65+ bonds deadline past General Election day February 8, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne yesterday revealed that the government will now be offering £15bn worth of controversial so-called pensioner bonds, with an extended application deadline that falls on 15 May – one week after the General Election. The 65+ guaranteed growth bonds, as they are officially known, offer marketing leading rates, at 2.8 per cent interest [...]
Businesses still upbeat despite General Election jitters February 8, 2015 UK businesses are brimming with confidence despite the upcoming General Election on 7 May. An optimism index produced by accountants BDO maintained a robust score of 104.4 in January, according to data published today. Although marginally down from December’s 104.9, the figure remains above the long-term average of 100. The BDO indices for output and [...]
From Greece to Scotland via BT and EE: What got us talking this week February 6, 2015 It was all Greek to us this week Specifically, Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who visited London as part of a Europe-wide charm offensive to support his plan for solving the small matter of the country's giant debt. Free market think tank Adam Smith Institute gave its backing to his debt restructuring [...]
Who’s Bill? The question is, whose bill? – Editor’s Letter February 5, 2015 Who’s Bill? It is the question of the week, after Ed Balls’ senior moment on Newsnight. Balls struggled to recall the name of one supporter from the world of business, a moment that became symbolic of Labour’s new antagonistic stance toward the corporate sector. In Prime Minister’s Questions, an unrepentant Ed Miliband went on to [...]
UK firms face unprecedented risks – politicians shouldn’t be adding more February 5, 2015 Uncertainty has become a new watchword for British businesses. It may not be new for them – to varying degrees they have always operated in an uncertain world – but it is now more prominent in their thinking than at any other time in a generation. Today, they face an underperforming Eurozone, ongoing conflicts in [...]
Former Liberal Democrat media boss Mark Littlewood slams Nick Clegg’s plan for higher taxes February 5, 2015 The former chief spin doctor for the Lib Dems has condemned the party's plans for massive tax hikes after the General Election. The Lib Dems set out their fiscal offer to the nation today pledging an additional £8bn of tax rises to help balance the books by 2017-18. Party leader Nick Clegg added they would [...]