Budget 2015: We need a second wave of the consumer revolution to restore faith in capitalism March 17, 2015 Today, the chancellor presents his last Budget before the General Election. With limited room for tax giveaways, and a need to show that the Tories are on the side of the “little guy”, it’s time for the second wave of the British competition revolution – to arm consumers to take on big business. Ed Miliband’s [...]
Budget 2015: It’s George Osborne’s narrative that counts, not the details March 17, 2015 All eyes will be on George Osborne’s Budget today. An immense amount of media attention and serious commentary will be devoted to it. But do Budgets really matter? How much difference would it make if successive chancellors simply did nothing, apart from indexing various allowances and benefits in line with inflation? From time immemorial, British [...]
Why Tory plans to reform Inheritance Tax will make a bad system even worse March 17, 2015 WHENEVER we approach a General Election or Budget, the competition for the daftest tax policy idea is always intense. The current front-runner is probably the proposal to largely exempt houses from Inheritance Tax. Some Conservatives are currently pushing plans to increase the amount of an estate which will be exempt from Inheritance Tax by the [...]
As the chancellor delivers the Budget today, could it be an election-winner for the Tories? March 17, 2015 Charles Lewington, managing director of Hanover Communications, says Yes The Budget will be rich in positive news – the deficit halved as a proportion of GDP, more people in work than ever, and improved economic growth. But don’t expect an immediate shift in Tory polling numbers. Changes to personal tax allowances and welfare caps will [...]
The UK political system is dying and can only be saved by wholescale digitisation March 17, 2015 Look at the retail industry which has been revolutionised by digital, by online brands such as Amazon; and the likes of the taxi industry which is being disrupted by brands like Uber. But what about the UK political system, how is it using digital to engage with the electorate? To put it simply, it isn’t. [...]
Budget 2015: George Osborne has failed to face up to Britain’s long-term fiscal challenges March 16, 2015 We know a lot about tomorrow’s Budget from George Osborne’s TV appearances over the weekend. He will announce “a Budget for the long term” that will “raise living standards”. It will be a balanced Budget that avoids the problems of the previous government, which “got itself into trouble with unfunded promises”. To satisfy the chancellor’s [...]
George Osborne likes to think the unthinkable: Now he should abolish the Budget March 16, 2015 It’s a well-known saying that “turkeys don’t vote for Christmas”. So calling for George Osborne to take to the despatch box tomorrow and announce that he’s abolishing future Budgets – in turn, greatly diminishing the Treasury’s power – might seem a fanciful plea. In truth, it’s about as likely as Ed Miliband offering journalists the [...]
Housing Zones: How we’re using creative partnerships to build homes for London March 16, 2015 This week, thousands will gather in Westminster for the Homes for Britain rally. They are calling for the housing crisis to be solved in a generation by building more homes, with the challenge symbolised by a giant key being passed between campaigners from Land’s End to London. This week the key reached Lewisham, at a [...]
A year after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, has the West managed to contain Vladimir Putin? March 16, 2015 Timothy Ash, head of emerging market research (excluding Africa) at Standard Bank, says Yes To answer this, one has to understand Vladimir Putin’s overall long-term strategic objectives regarding Ukraine. If they are threefold – no EU, no Nato and no successful Maidan administration in Kiev – then the Russian President has unfinished business. The combination [...]
The Conservatives have outlived their usefulness: It’s time for a southern party March 16, 2015 Us southerners are over-taxed, says Kelvin MacKenzie. We must fight back I FEEL gloomy about the outcome of the General Election. If you could choose your enemy in politics, I presume David Cameron would pick Ed Miliband ahead of anybody else on the Labour benches with the possible exception of that portly prat Tom Watson. [...]