New HMRC debt recovery powers that allow direct access to bank accounts slammed by taxpayer group as “flying in the face of Magna Carta” July 12, 2015 The Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA) has slammed new HMRC debt recovery powers which they said “fly in the face of Magna Carta”. Under the new direct recovery rules, which were announced in the 2014 Budget and are yet to come into force, HMRC would have the ability to seize funds directly from bank accounts. In a [...]
Greece offered Eurozone exit as alternative to bailout as Eurogroup talks continue late into the night July 12, 2015 Greece has been told it could make a temporary exit from the Eurozone if it fails to come to an agreement with its creditors in last-ditch tonight. Read more: Eurozone leaders assemble European leaders are once again locked in late night negotiations, after taking a second break for bilateral talks, as Greek looks to secure the much-needed [...]
Greek debt crisis: Angela Merkel, Alexis Tsipras, Francois Hollande and Eurozone leaders assemble for Brussels bailout talks July 12, 2015 Eurozone leaders have assembled in Brussels to discuss a deal to bailout Greece from its debt crisis after a morning of talks between finance ministers. “We’re now going to inform the leaders we’ve finalised our discussion. We’ve come a long way but a couple of big issues still are open so we’re going to put [...]
Greece debt crisis: EC president Donald Tusk cancels 28 member EU Summit as European finance ministers resume “difficult” talks July 12, 2015 An emergency summit between the 28 leaders of the European Union has been called off, as talks between European finance ministers resume today in a last-ditch effort to come to an agreement on Greece's bailout proposals. Ministers locked in talks until midnight on Saturday failed to come to a consensus on Greece's proposals for new [...]
Greek debt crisis: Eurozone finance ministers divided in tough talks July 11, 2015 The finance ministers of the Eurozone countries have warned there will be tough negotiations as they meet to discuss whether Greece’s new reform proposals are a basis for a third bailout. Eurogroup chief and Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said there was a “major issue of trust”, while Wolfgang Schaeuble, Germany’s finance minister, said the [...]
How has the pound performed over the last 12 months? July 11, 2015 Over the last year the pound has had a mixed performance against the world’s major currencies, according to new research. Sterling has declined in value against 30 out of 61 currencies analysed, increasing against 30, Lloyds Bank Private Banking research showed. Sterling also outperformed nine out of the 16 currencies in the G20 group of [...]
Oil prices still haven’t hit rock bottom, says International Energy Agency, even after Brent crude falls below $60 per barrel July 10, 2015 Global oil demand will slow in 2016, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted in its latest monthly report. The world’s leading energy forecaster warned rebalancing of supply and demand in oil market has “yet to run its course”. Oil prices have fallen 60 per cent in the past year, with US benchmark WTI trading [...]
Rationale of bank surcharge under fire as IFS think tank blasts George Osborne’s 2015 July Budget July 9, 2015 A leading think tank has criticised the volatility of the UK’s bank levy and the thinking behind a new bank surcharge as part of a wider assault on what it described as a “deeply disappointing” Budget. There would have been 13 different bank levy rates in 10 years by 2020 under Wednesday’s Budget plans, [...]
George Osborne’s productivity plan: Tories promise housebuilding boom to lift economy July 9, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne will today put housebuilding at the centre of his plans to reverse Britain’s poor rates of productivity. Alongside business secretary Sajid Javid, Osborne will argue that “sweeping new changes to planning laws” can boost productivity by allowing people to live – and businesses to be located – in more efficient areas. The [...]
City plays down living wage cost fears but hospitality industry could struggle July 9, 2015 Analysts predicted yesterday that UK retailers would largely dodge the effects of the new national living wage but warned the leisure and hospitality industry would face tough times. In a surprise move on Wednesday George Osborne announced a new minimum wage of £7.20 per hour from April next year for workers over the age of [...]