DEBATE: With less than six months to go until Brexit, does this Budget actually matter? October 26, 2018 With less than six months to go until Brexit, does this Budget actually matter? Rhiannon Kinghall Were is head of tax policy at Macfarlanes. Getting this year’s Budget right matters, both politically and economically. It is taking place in a highly charged political environment – even if it appears literate on paper, this is not [...]
The carbon tax cost my company millions – and I’m calling on the chancellor to raise it on Monday October 26, 2018 Normally in the week before a Budget, you would expect businesses like mine to be making last-minute pitches to the chancellor for less regulation and a cut in taxes. Yet here I am about to make a case in favour of the carbon tax – a tax which in the past cost my company millions [...]
Instead of obsessing over faulty stats, let’s celebrate the gender progress we’ve made October 26, 2018 More good news for women: according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the gender pay gap in the UK is now at its lowest on record. Coming in at 8.6 per cent for full-time workers in 2018, the average gap in hourly earnings between men and women is down from 9.1 per cent last [...]
Editor’s Notes: Brexit can’t mean an end to good governance, respite for Grenfell survivors, and from pulling pints to pitching policy October 26, 2018 There are complaints that Brexit is taking up so much time in Westminster that parliament doesn’t have the energy or the space to focus on anything else. In reality, legislators are as busy as ever but they may well be too distracted to offer effective legislative scrutiny. Last night, no fewer than nine human rights [...]
After Jamal Khashoggi’s death we need to re-assess diplomatic immunity October 26, 2018 In 1961 the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations was adopted by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities. It was followed in 1963 by the Vienna Convention on Consular relations, These treaties have, as of this month, been ratified by 192 and 179 states respectively. In summary, these treaties create an environment of [...]
MPs call for new tribunal system to help SMEs take on big banks October 26, 2018 A row is brewing over how to prevent another RBS-style asset stripping scandal after MPs backed a new tribunal system to help small businesses take on banks. The Treasury Select Committee is throwing its weight behind establishing a special system for settling disputes involving small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large banks. The plan goes [...]
Budget windfall to tackle rise of antisemitism October 26, 2018 Charities combating antisemitism are set to receive £1.7million in Monday's Budget in a bid to tackle a rise in the hate crime. Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce the pot of money to fund visits to Nazi concentration camps for students, as well as additional school projects such as first hand testimonies from Holocaust [...]
Philip Hammond should be unashamed to show he is a true blue in the Budget October 25, 2018 With extra funding for the NHS and an end to austerity already announced, Philip Hammond must be wondering if it is him or John McDonnell delivering next week's Budget. While the cash boost for the health service is welcome, and the narrative of ending austerity popular with certain commentators, Hammond must use the Budget to [...]
British shoppers show signs of ‘more optimism in their outlook’ October 25, 2018 British shoppers are showing signs of cautious optimism in the run-up to Christmas, as low levels of unemployment and rising wages suggest a slight uptick in spending confidence. Just over a quarter of UK retail consumers think they will be better off in the next 12 months, marking an improvement in sentiment compared with last [...]
Magners maker C&C to produce more drinks in the UK after Brexit October 25, 2018 The maker of Bulmers and Magners cider is in late-stage talks to start producing European drinks at its UK plant after Brexit. Chief executive Stephen Glancey told Reuters that Brexit has presented opportunities for the Irish business. “You've got other manufacturers coming to us and saying ‘can you manufacture for us in the UK’? … [...]