Challengers lambast competition watchdog’s report for focussing on technology and ignoring red tape issues August 10, 2016 Challenger banks have lambasted the competition watchdog for squandering a rare opportunity for change in a sector dominated by larger players. Many of the UK’s up-and-coming lenders were disappointed that yesterday’s final report from the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) retail banking investigation focused more on using technology to disrupt the sector than on tearing down some of the [...]
Brexit is an opportunity to build a points-based migration system that actually works without crippling the economy August 9, 2016 The debate over free movement rages on since its starring role in the Brexit campaign. With the status of current EU migrants and future talent unclear, a new level of business uncertainty is engulfing UK employers. From tech and creative startups through to the NHS, organisations up and down the country are unsure about what [...]
Donald Trump hits back at “failed Washington elite” foreign policy experts who brand him reckless August 9, 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has hit out at a "failed Washington elite" that warned against electing him to the White House. Trump said the 50 Republican foreign policy experts are attempting to hold on to power after they wrote an open letter warning that the billionaire would be "the most reckless president" in US history. [...]
Levels of female representation in parliament must not be hit by the upcoming boundary review, a committee has warned August 9, 2016 The proportion of women in parliament must not be hit by an upcoming boundary review, a cross-party committee has warned. Parliament's women and equalities committee has launched a new inquiry into the impact of the review on female representation within the House of Commons. There are currently 192 female MPs in parliament – 30 per [...]
A former shadow business minister and enterprise adviser to Ed Miliband has vowed to quit Labour if Jeremy Corbyn is retained as leader August 9, 2016 A Labour peer who previously served as Ed Miliband's business adviser has vowed to quit Labour if Jeremy Corbyn is retained as party leader. Lord Parry Mitchell, a three-time technology entrepreneur who supported Miliband on enterprise from 2013 and previously served as shadow business minister, said he will resign over Corbyn's approach to anti-Semitism. Mitchell, who also [...]
Andy Burnham confirmed as Labour candidate for Manchester mayor August 9, 2016 Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham has been tapped by Labour as their candidate for Manchester mayor. Manchester will choose an elected mayor next May, when the roles of existing interim mayor and elected police and crime commissioner are merged. Burnham said it was a "great honour" to be selected as he overcame competition from Burt South MP Ivan [...]
Southern discomfort: Train operator only delivered 70 per cent of services on time August 9, 2016 The train operator at the centre of what is set to be the longest strike on the railways since the 1960s has seen the punctuality of its services plunge to just 70 per cent, new figures show. During July, Southern's operator Govia Thameslink only delivered 70 per cent of services on time across its franchises according [...]
Government won’t shale out on fracking payments for a while August 8, 2016 Government won't have to fork out cash to those living near a shale gas exploration site for some time to come, a consultation document into the matter has revealed. The Shale Wealth Fund consultation, which was launched today by the Treasury, revealed, because the Fund would be financed using tax revenues from sites developed for gas production, [...]
Donald Trump announces plans for tax change and axe to regulation during economic renewal speech August 8, 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has announced an official change in his top rate tax proposal, lifting it in line with the House Republicans proposals. The billionaire said he would change the top rate tax proposal to 33 per cent from 25 per cent during a speech in Detroit about “economic renewal”. Promising a tax overhaul, [...]
Theresa May has issued a cautious defence of the national living wage after businesses called on the government to moderate increases August 8, 2016 Downing Street has issued a cautious response to business demands for a delay in the implementation of the national living wage. Business groups including the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) wrote to business and energy secretary Greg Clark to call for targets for the programme to be pushed back. The national living wage is aimed at [...]