Chancellor Philip Hammond to scrap letting agent fees in today’s Autumn Statement November 23, 2016 Chancellor Philip Hammond will today deliver a package of reforms aimed at raising living standards, including the latest increases for the National Living Wage. But it's not such good news for British landlords, who will suffer a blow with letting agent fees in the firing line. Hammond is expected to ban them, in what the government [...]
From bunnies to Brexit – the government’s fiscal events are about to get a lot more serious November 23, 2016 Help to Buy, the National Living Wage, the New Isa, the Lifetime Isa, a tax on fizzy drinks – the list of George Osborne’s fiscal innovations was, until his departure from Downing Street, seemingly endless. During his time as chancellor, Osborne was especially keen to pull at least one rabbit out of his metaphorical hat [...]
A Khan aide has just blocked London Assembly members from grilling the new Night Tsar November 22, 2016 A key aide to Sadiq Khan has blocked London Assembly members from directly interrogating the mayor's controversial new Night Tsar Amy Lame. Khan handed the role to Lame in early November, but the appointment has been mired in disputes over her comments on social media, and the manner in which she was hired. In particular, Lame's [...]
Donald Trump says he thinks there’s “some connectivity” between people and climate change November 22, 2016 First he opted against pursuing charges against Hillary Clinton over her email saga. And now President-elect Donald Trump seems to be changing his tune on climate change. In 2012, Trump tweeted: "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive." Read more: Keep calm and [...]
Massive investment in education is the ultimate fiscal stimulus for Brexit Britain November 22, 2016 We learnt of three priorities for government spending recently: roads, railways and flood defences. As an economist, I take a slightly different view of what’s needed to drive the UK economy at this pivotal time. To quote a former politician, my three priorities for public infrastructure in today’s Autumn Statement would be “education, education, education.” In [...]
Chancellor Hammond must focus on the quality of infrastructure spending, not its quantity November 22, 2016 Keynes is back, or so it seems. Both left and right wing movements across the West are calling for greater government borrowing to finance infrastructure projects. In the US, Donald Trump is proposing to invest $500bn. In the UK, Labour’s John McDonnell wants an even more lavish £500bn programme, equivalent to around a quarter of [...]
Donald Trump isn’t actually going to pursue Hillary Clinton charges November 22, 2016 US President-elect Donald Trump has come over all magnanimous. A spokeswoman for Trump said he won't pursue a further investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails so she can "heal". In fact, the incoming President has backed down from his pledge to appoint a special prosecutor to look into the former Secretary of State. Kellyanne Conway, who managed [...]
No Brexit debate in parliament is creating sideshows, warns House of Lords November 22, 2016 A lack of healthy debate about Brexit in parliament risks creating more noise, such as the recent Article 50 case, elsewhere, the House of Lords has cautioned today. In a debate to discuss what degree parliament should be consulted on Brexit, the peers called on government to involve both houses more on its thinking on [...]
Oh Canada! Finance minister not fussed about UK trade deal November 22, 2016 Canada will be in no rush to strike up a trade deal with the UK following Brexit, a key minister has said today. As the UK moves closer to leaving the EU, many have been eager to know what kind of trade relations the country will be able to secure. But Canada's finance minister Bill Morneau has [...]
Minicab drivers are staging an anti-Uber protest in Westminster November 22, 2016 A fresh anti-Uber protest has hit the capital, aimed at piling more pressure on the Mayor of London to "take action" against the startup. Minicab drivers are staging a protest from Edgware Road, past Transport for London's offices in Victoria and which arrives at Westminster at 2.30pm. Members of drivers union United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) are calling on Sadiq [...]