Nightmare fuel: Have Labour’s first 100 days proved a shaky start? October 9, 2024 During Liz Truss’ short-lived premiership, my friend confessed the then-Prime Minister was actually living out a recurring nightmare she occasionally had. The ‘plot’ of said nightmare? “The idea that you think yourself capable of something and you get to the top and you’re on the front page of every newspaper, and every news channel and [...]
Tory leadership: James Cleverly tops MP ballot as Tom Tugendhat knocked out October 8, 2024 James Cleverly has topped the latest MP ballot to take over as Tory leader, with rival candidate Tom Tugendhat being eliminated from the race. Former home and foreign secretary Cleverly received 39 votes from Tory MPs in the latest round of voting in the race to replace Rishi Sunak as leader. He overtook fellow hopeful [...]
Russian spies plotting to cause ‘mayhem’ on streets of UK and Europe October 8, 2024 The Russian intelligence service is on “a sustained mission to generate mayhem” on UK streets, the head of MI5 has warned. Ken Mccallum said GRU agents have carried out “arson, sabotage and more dangerous actions” in Britain amid the UK’s support for Ukraine in the war between the two nations. Speaking at the counter-terrorism operations [...]
Rachel Reeves promises to ‘revolutionise’ UK capital markets and boost London listings October 8, 2024 Ministers and regulators have made urgent efforts to inject more life into Britain's capital markets amid a dearth of IPO activity and heavy outflows from UK equity funds.
London Underground: Tube strikes loom as workers to vote on walk-outs October 8, 2024 London Underground workers are being balloted on Tube strikes over pay and conditions amid a dispute with Transport for London (TfL). Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) in jobs including customer service and advising passengers in stations are being asked if they want to strike. The ballot closes on 18 October and also [...]
HS2 will reach Euston, transport secretary signals October 8, 2024 Transport secretary Louise Haigh has given the strongest signal yet that HS2 will reach London’s Euston station, ahead of an announcement she said would be coming soon. The Cabinet minister said an announcement on the project could occur during the Budget on Wednesday, 30 October. Speaking to Times Radio this morning, Haigh said: “We’ve said [...]
‘Challenging policy’: What the pushback to private school VAT plans reveals October 8, 2024 VAT… easy as ABC? It may not quite be Blair’s ‘education, education, education’ mantra, or Michael Gove’s multi-academy trusts. But for Sir Keir ‘my-father-was-a-toolmaker’ Starmer, there’s been one education policy that’s been front and centre of his manifesto and the first 100 days. This is, of course, the plan to impose VAT on private school [...]
Pension death tax an ‘area to target’ experts say October 8, 2024 In a new report, the industry body discussed the wide range of changes to pension taxes which Reeves is rumoured to be considering ahead of the budget, warning there were "no easy solutions".
Chancellor’s tightrope walk will leave us holding our breath October 8, 2024 By tradition, Chancellors are allowed a stiff drink at the despatch box as they deliver their Budget. Parliamentary records tell us that Gladstone enjoyed sherry and beaten egg while the most recent Chancellor to indulge in this ancient right, Ken Clarke, opted for a straight whiskey. Since then, there’s been nothing but water in the [...]
‘Hugely damaging’: AJ Bell warns Reeves against pension tax raid October 7, 2024 AJ Bell has added to mounting calls for Rachel Reeves to retreat from a raid on UK pensioners today as it warned rumours of the government’s tax plans were “hugely damaging” and “making people fearful about long-term saving”. In a call to the Chancellor, the FTSE 250 savings and investment platform, which is headquartered in [...]