Don’t compare Marine Le Pen to Brexit and Trump: The Front National doesn’t have a chance February 27, 2017 The two-month countdown to the French presidential election has ushered in an air of nervousness among investors who are worried about being wrong-footed by another populist upset in Europe. The fact that Marine Le Pen, the candidate of the far-right National Front, is borrowing on familiar themes of putting France First and pledging to hold [...]
The inside story of how the London Stock Exchange’s mega merger with Deutsche Boerse was suddenly derailed by Brussels February 27, 2017 Everything seemed to be going so smoothly. Nearly a year after the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Boerse unveiled their latest attempt to merge, many City folk gave the £21bn deal a respectable chance of success. "Better than 50 per cent," one high-profile Square Mile executive said at a lunch earlier this month. The European Commission [...]
The oldest serving MP Gerald Kaufman has died at the age of 86 February 27, 2017 The oldest serving MP Sir Gerald Kaufman has died at the age of 86. The Father of the House was a junior minister between 1974 and 1979 and held senior cabinet positions throughout the 1980s. He became the oldest serving member of the House of Commons in 2015 and became an MP in 1970. Labour leader Jeremy [...]
One in five small businesses could close or sell up after business rates hike February 27, 2017 One in five small businesses could close down or sell their business after changes to business rates shoot up in April. Many small businesses are preparing to reduce staff costs to offset the rate rises, according to a new survey from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). More than half of those surveyed (54 per cent) expect [...]
The TaxPayers’ Alliance wants business rates to be reformed February 27, 2017 The TaxPayers' Alliance has suggested that business rates are a “bad tax” and could be replaced altogether. The campaign group proposed several reforms to the current system including automating revaluations annually to avoid so-called “cliff edges” when business rates suddenly jump. Today's recommendations come as a result of the first revaluation of business rates since [...]
Government raises awareness of workers’ rights ahead of minimum wage increase February 27, 2017 The government is preparing for the upcoming increases to the national minimum wage and living wage by kicking off an awareness-raising campaign today. The new initiative aims to increase low-paid workers' understanding of their rights to fair pay, following a poll showing that workers earning less that £15,000 a year were confused about what their [...]
Embed purpose into business so that it flourishes for the benefit of all February 27, 2017 UK business is at a critical juncture. Low investment and low productivity have been compounded by perceptions that their fruits are unequally shared. The government’s recent green papers on corporate governance and industrial strategy signal a serious intent to address these problems by revitalising the productivity of business, reorienting its focus onto the long run, [...]
Ministers probe plan to cut NI contributions for firms recruiting ex-offenders February 27, 2017 Ministers are exploring whether firms should be offered financial incentives to recruit ex-offenders. Options being considered include reducing National Insurance contributions if employers take on former prisoners. The plans emerged as part of the government's response to a report from the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which calls on ministers to provide more support to ex-offenders. Read More: Ex-migration chief [...]
Labour is still embroiled in a decades-long battle to decide what it stands for February 27, 2017 Nearly 60 years ago Denis Healey delivered a speech to the Labour party conference that has since become famous among Britain’s left-leaning political activists and commentators. Labour had just suffered a bruising third-straight General Election defeat, with the Conservatives storming to a three-figure majority under the leadership of Harold Macmillan. “There are far too many [...]
Is the Home Office considering plans to hand new visa powers to an independent body after Brexit? February 26, 2017 The Home Office is reportedly considering handing new powers to an independent migration body to issue visas on a sector-by-sector basis. The Sunday Times reports that ministers are evaluating a plan to grant the Migration Advisory Committee powers to decide how many visas need to be issued for workers in key sectors after Brexit. The [...]