Britain’s top accountants say the Treasury does not have the financial expertise of the private sector February 1, 2016 A leading industry group has slammed the Treasury today, saying the government department is "not functioning as a modern finance industry". In a new report out today, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) says the Treasury needs major reforms and restructuring to "more effectively tackle the deficit, be more efficient in spending [...]
North sea oil and gas: Scottish government unveils funding to boost research and development February 1, 2016 The Scottish government today unveiled £12.5m funding to sustain research and development (R&D) in the embattled North Sea oil and gas industry, which has been pummelled by the oil price rout. Scottish Enterprise funding of £10m will help firms reduce risks associated with carrying out R&D. An extra £2.5m will enable them to draw on [...]
EU referendum: New research shows at least one in three Conservative MPs will back Brexit February 1, 2016 One in three MPs are still undecided on whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union, according to a new poll out today from Ipsos Mori. The pollsters carried out the survey for the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, finding that a third of MPs said their vote in the referendum [...]
MPs on BIS Committee say government “lacks focus” when it comes to tackling low UK productivity February 1, 2016 An influential group of MPs has slammed the government over its efforts to boost Britain’s productivity, saying ministers’ plans “lack focus”. In a new report out today, MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee said the government’s so-called productivity plan, first introduced last summer, “lacks clear, measurable objectives and largely amounts to an [...]
Freelancers feeling good again after government scraps tax plan February 1, 2016 Things are looking up for the UK’s growing freelance community, with confidence rising and a controversial tax plan scrapped. According to a new survey by the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE), 35 per cent of freelancers felt confident about their work prospects in the third quarter of 2015, compared with just [...]
London airport expansion: Sir Howard Davies, Sir Martin Sorrell, CBI, London First and others hit back at MPs’ request for more economic analysis of airport options January 31, 2016 Business groups have once again urged the government to push ahead with airport expansion, after an influential group of MPs opened the door to further delays by calling for more economic analysis of the costs and benefits of additional runways. In a letter today to chancellor George Osborne, Treasury Committee chair Andrew Tyrie attacked the [...]
Greek bailout talks to continue amid clashes over pension reforms January 31, 2016 Greece is set to review its bailout progress on Monday, with pension reforms high on the agenda. The talks – which were initially scheduled to take place in December – are likely to last at least a couple of weeks. The review comes as bailout monitors arrive in Athens to check on the progress of [...]
EU referendum: Controversial filmmaker Martin Durkin launches crowdfunding campaign for “Brexit: The Movie” January 31, 2016 Could “Brexit: The Movie” be coming soon to a cinema near you? Martin Durkin hopes so. The controversial documentary filmmaker, who has been called the “Michael Moore of the right” is tomorrow kicking off a crowdfunding campaign to raise £100,000 in support of his next eurosceptic project. Durkin, whose other credits include “Nigel Farage: Who [...]
Google tax deal not a “glorious moment” business secretary Sajid Javid admits January 31, 2016 Google's deal to pay £130m in corporation tax was not a "glorious moment", business secretary Sajid Javid has admitted, but has insisted it will change behaviour. Google also defended the payment, saying it doesn't have a so-called sweetheart deal with the government or HMRC and pays a rate of 20 per cent in the UK and globally. The pay deal, [...]
EU referendum: David Cameron faces crucial talks with Donald Tusk over “emergency brake” on in-work migrant benefits January 31, 2016 David Cameron will begin crucial talks with EU Council President Donald Tusk as he seeks greater powers to control in-work benefits for migrants coming to Britain. The Prime Minister will push for an "emergency brake" on benefits that can be applied immediately after the EU referendum. Brussels has offered the power to halt migrant payments for up to [...]