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 [...]
EU referendum: ComRes poll finds most Brits want to stay in the EU January 30, 2016 The majority of Brits are in favour of staying in the European Union, according to the latest poll by ComRes, however opposition to membership ticked up slightly. Fifty-four percent of respondents in the poll carried out on behalf of the Daily Mail said they would vote to remain in the EU if the widely anticipated in/out referendum was [...]
Chancellor George Osborne facing Budget squeeze after postponing Lloyds share sell-off January 28, 2016 George Osborne was dealt a double blow yesterday, as Britain’s economic growth slowed and the government was forced to postpone the sell-off of Lloyds, with economists warning that taxes could be raised to make up for a shortfall in the public finances. The sale of the final chunk of Lloyds shares – which was expected to [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Labour candidate Sadiq Khan attacks Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith over housing policy January 28, 2016 Labour mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan was on the offensive tonight at the first official hustings event in the race for City Hall, as he attacked Conservative rival Zac Goldmsith over housing policy. Khan and Goldsmith participated in a public debate organised by the London Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) at the London School of Economics. The debate also [...]
EU referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron will reportedly discuss an emergency brake on migration with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker January 28, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron will reportedly discuss a new so-called emergency brake rule to curb migration when he meets European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker tomorrow in Brussels. Downing Street revealed yesterday that Cameron had cancelled a trip to Denmark and Sweden this week and would instead sit down with Juncker for crunch talks ahead of next [...]
EU referendum: Brexit could cause a total loss to UK GDP of two to seven per cent, says AXA economist January 27, 2016 If Britain votes to leave the European Union the loss to the UK's gross domestic product would lie between two and seven per cent, according to a top AXA economist. Senior economist at AXA Investment Managers David Page said that AXA's own assessments of Brexit are more skewed to a "pessimistic outlook", and as such [...]
EU referendum: How will SMEs vote? January 27, 2016 With the prospect of increased business rates looming in George Osborne’s March Budget as well as the European Union referendum set to take place next year, UK SMEs have a number of issues that need to be addressed within their businesses in order to remain profitable during what could be a turbulent time. This is [...]
EU referendum: Former Scottish National Party leader may back Brexit to help achieve Scottish independence January 27, 2016 A number of those who are in favour of Scottish independence and strongly support staying in the European Union could end up voting for Brexit in order to bolster the chances of gaining independence for Scotland, a former Scottish National Party leader has said. Speaking to Reuters, former SNP leader Gordon Wilson said that some voters may [...]
EU referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron cancels trip to Denmark and Sweden to meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker January 27, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron has cancelled a trip to Denmark and Sweden this week and will instead sit down with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for crunch talks ahead of next month's European Council meeting. Downing Street said this afternoon that the Prime Minister will travel to Brussels on Friday to meet one-on-one with Juncker to [...]