Think tank hits back at businesses trying to neuter Osborne’s living wage September 7, 2016 A leading think tank has urged Theresa May to ignore the complaints of businesses and push ahead with raising the national living wage (NLW) over the coming years. The Resolution Foundation has today called on the prime minister to “stick to her guns”, warning watering down the policy could result in low-paid workers losing out [...]
City passporting rights must be at the top of the government agenda on Brexit talks, according to an influential think tank September 7, 2016 City passporting rights must become the government's first priority following Brexit, according to an influential think tank, which also argues that London can remain Europe's leading financial services centre. A paper from the Margaret Thatcher founded Centre for Policy Studies today argues that while Brexit will bring challenges for the UK's financial services industry, it [...]
UK and Australia to start planning free trade deal September 6, 2016 The UK and Australia will start to lay the groundwork for a sweeping free trade deal ahead of the UK's formal exit from the EU. At an event in London this evening, trade secretary Liam Fox and his Australian counterpart Steven Ciobo announced the creation of a "bilateral trade working group" to shape out the details [...]
Multinationals could be forced to declare country-by-country revenues and taxes thanks to an amendment tabled in parliament by a Labour MP September 6, 2016 New UK legislation could force multinational corporations to reveal the taxes they have paid in every country in which they operate, after MPs voted in favour of landmark new tax proposals this evening. The new rules would introduce a country-by-country reporting system, allowing tax information published by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to include details on where a company's revenues [...]
Sadiq Khan approved a new 10,000 home development in Barking, but it will only include 35 per cent affordable properties at the outset September 6, 2016 London mayor Sadiq Khan has handed approval to a new development of 10,000 new homes on the northern banks of the River Thames. Khan offcially backed the plans for Barking Riverside, a 180-hectare brownfield site, the largest single regeneration project in London, previously home to three power stations and landfill. The site will be owned [...]
Does the government think Single Market membership is “highly improbable”? It depends who you ask… September 6, 2016 Confusion has broken out over the government's stance on Single Market membership after Downing Street refused to back the Brexit minister's views on Europe. Brexit minister David Davis made his first ministerial statement since being appointed May's secretary of state for exiting the European Union yesterday. And responding to a question from former small business [...]
Keith Vaz resigns as head of the home affairs select committee over male escorts and drug-taking allegations September 6, 2016 Keith Vaz has resigned as head of the home affairs select committee over allegations he paid for male escorts. The Labour MP had led the committee since 2007 and the group investigates areas such as crime, policing, drugs, immigration and extremism. According to a report in the Sunday Mirror last weekend, the 59-year-old MP for Leicester [...]
Leave the buy to let market alone, Britain needs more landlords September 6, 2016 Twenty years since buy to let took off, landlords are now a crucial part of Britain’s housing ecosystem. The private rented sector, accounting for around one in five properties, provides much-needed homes for those people who are not ready to buy or do not want to purchase a property. However, the sector sometimes comes in for stick, [...]
The Department for Education is facing questions over the merits of a drive to establish apprenticeship standards September 6, 2016 The government is facing doubts over its plans for apprenticeships, after the National Audit Office (NAO) raised questions on how the economy will gain from boosted numbers. In a report issued today, the NAO said the Department for Education has yet to reveal how it expects increased numbers of apprenticeships to boost productivity, or how [...]
Lloyd’s chair John Nelson has issued a warning to Theresa May, demanding a cohesive government approach to Brexit September 5, 2016 The chairman of Lloyd's of London has issued a warning to Theresa May over Brexit, demanding a cohesive government approach. Speaking at the Lloyd's City Dinner tonight, John Nelson said: "If we are not able to access the single market, either through passporting rights or other means, the inevitable consequences for Lloyd's – and indeed other [...]