Britain’s economic growth is being stifled by visa red tape November 7, 2018 Political momentum is building to take a fresh look at visa restrictions on international recruitment of skilled people. The most media coverage has rightly been given to the refusal of 1,500 doctors, which the NHS desperately needs. But the government’s strict attitude to migration is causing problems across business professions and public services. The [...]
The hyperloop train is leaving the station – and the UK must be on it November 7, 2018 Britain can reasonably claim to have invented the railway. Stephenson’s Rocket represented the pinnacle of British industrial-era innovation. The ability to move products and people by steam locomotion had a transformative effect on society. British ingenuity saw railways knit communities together across the country, and eventually the globe. And for the next couple of centuries, [...]
Industry veteran Steve Morgan retires from housebuilder Redrow November 7, 2018 While much of today’s property talk has revolved around the bonus-related resignation of Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburn, rival housebuilder Redrow also bid its farewell to founder and chairman Steve Morgan. The industry veteran, who set up the FTSE 250 company in 1974, revealed he was retiring this morning a decade on from returning to the [...]
Good news – the evidence is in from across the Atlantic, and tax cuts benefit everyone November 7, 2018 From discussions on how the UK should reform its tax and regulatory landscape to make the most of post-Brexit opportunities, to the rallies midterm election candidates have been holding across the US championing or lambasting the President’s tax cuts, the debate is still raging about how changes to taxes impact economies. But if you need [...]
Hammond’s digital tax is an illogical game of whack-a-mole November 7, 2018 The introduction of a new digital services tax was the most depressingly inevitable part of Philip Hammond’s Budget speech last week. Years of pressure from a pincer movement of corporate tax moralists and traditional retailers have paid off. Starting in April 2020, profitable digital businesses with £500m in global revenues would face a two per cent [...]
Downing Street denies leaked Brexit timetable November 6, 2018 Reports tonight of a leaked document apparently from the Department for Exiting the EU, which outlined the government’s strategy for revealing a successful Brexit deal to the press and MPs later this month, have been refuted by Downing Street. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office said the document seemed "childish", denying its authenticity: "The [...]
Tesla short-seller David Einhorn warns Elon Musk’s last quarter was its peak November 6, 2018 One of Tesla's most outspoken short-sellers David Einhorn has said its most recent third quarter was "as good as it gets", spurning theories that the electric carmaker had reached a turning point. Einhorn, whose hedge fund Greenlight Capital has consistently shorted Tesla's shares, said in an earnings call this afternoon that Tesla had "exhausted" most of the [...]
Sadiq Khan slammed for ‘shocking’ strikes record ahead of Central Line action November 6, 2018 Sadiq Khan has been accused of having the worst strikes record of any London mayor despite promising there would be zero industrial action on his watch. Tomorrow's strike on the Central Line by the Aslef and RMT unions marks the 15th strike to occur since Khan was elected in May 2016. That figure includes 11 Tube strikes, one bus strike, [...]
Westminster council launches consultation for development of Oxford Street November 6, 2018 Westminster City Council has launched a consultation into the development of Oxford Street after Sadiq Khan's plans to pedestrianise the famous shopping area were ditched in the summer. The council has asked residents, businesses and visitors to give their verdict on their new plans for the street, which it says will increase walking space while [...]
‘Self-regulation ship has sailed’: UK data watchdog targets Facebook after Cambridge Analytica scandal November 6, 2018 Facebook showed a “disturbing level of disrespect” for users whose data was stolen in the Cambridge Analytica scandal, according to the head of the UK’s data watchdog. Information commissioner Elizabeth Denham also called for the tech giant to be regulated, saying she was “astounded” at the sheer amount of personal data held by the social [...]