Budget 2016: The sugar tax would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic March 16, 2016 George Osborne’s Budgets have a reputation for pulling populist rabbits out of hats. Last time it was the so-called living wage. This time it was something the government has repeatedly said it was loathe to endorse – a sugar tax. In his response to the chancellor, an angry Jeremy Corbyn berated the Budget on almost every count. [...]
Budget 2016: The lifetime Isa could be a real shot in the arm for savers and investors – but must not be bogged down in baggage like our pensions system March 16, 2016 There is plenty to mull from today's Budget, but one announcement in particular stood out. The saver's rabbit in the hat was the lifetime Isa, a scheme designed to help those under 40 get into the savings habit providing a bonus of up to £1,000 for every £4,000 saved per year, aimed at house purchase [...]
Budget 2016: Deficit poses a threat to Chancellor George Osborne’s ambitions March 16, 2016 "Education, education, education,” preached former Prime Minister Tony Blair, nearly two decades ago. The same sentiment, if not the same soundbite, will be borrowed today by a man who very much hopes to become a future inhabitant of Number 10. Alongside the usual fiscal tinkering, George Osborne will use the Budget to stress the importance [...]
This Budget is Osborne’s chance to simplify tax and defend globalisation March 16, 2016 There are two threads – one general, the other highly specific – which I should like to see weaved into the fabric of the chancellor’s Budget statement today. First, a clear defence of globalisation and, second, firm action towards the long overdue merger of income tax and National Insurance. Despite what purists might regard as [...]
More needs to be done for mums to go to Iceland March 16, 2016 As the challenger discount supermarkets continue to expand their market share, more established rivals are reacting in differing ways in their attempts to recoup lost ground. Iceland, known for its inexpensive frozen produce, has been trying to reposition itself. By improving the quality of its offering, it is aiming to broaden its appeal in the [...]
Here be digital dragons: Why we’re much better off than the official statistics say March 16, 2016 The oldest surviving map of Britain was created in Canterbury a thousand years ago. Our ancestors had a good idea of how to get around, as the country is depicted in its familiar shape. But understanding of the world outside Western Europe remained sketchy for centuries. The phrase “here be dragons” was allegedly used to [...]
George Osborne must liberate business from burdensome red tape if he wants to bolster UK growth March 16, 2016 The rumour mill is churning. Will George Osborne ease up on businesses in today’s Budget? Companies have shouldered a lot of responsibility for his plans so far. The chancellor justified giveaways in the last Autumn Statement with better-than-expected economic growth and, crucially, a series of levies on firms. A raft of new measures have been announced [...]
As Putin starts pulling his troops out of the country, could peace finally be coming to Syria? March 16, 2016 Michael Kerr, director of the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at KCL and author of The Alawis of Syria says Yes. On the same day that some of Syria’s warring factions attended talks in Geneva, again taking the initiative on Syria, Putin announced that Russia would withdraw some of its forces. This sent a message to the [...]
Champions League: Why the final score is not the only metric of success for Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern and Juventus in the Champions League March 15, 2016 When the elite of Europe face off in the Champions League this week, fans and pundits are likely to judge a team's success purely in terms of the score and other common stats relating to performance. Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger's team building abilities will be exclusively discussed in terms of their squad's showings on [...]
UK weather: Dreaming of a White Easter? Snow in March or April is more likely than at Christmas – but probably won’t happen this year March 15, 2016 In recent weeks we have seen headlines which would lead us to think that the weather forecast for this Easter could be one of two extremes. On the one hand “sudden stratospheric warming” could bring bank holiday snow and sub-zero temperatures – and on the other, you could believe that Britain is “set for a heatwave” with highs [...]