MPs reject a tampon tax bill calling for a reduction in the rate of VAT on women’s sanitary products October 26, 2015 Eurosceptic Tory MPs joined forces with Labour and the SNP in a surprising alliance last night to try to force the government to cut taxes on women’s sanitary products. The coalition failed with MPs rejecting The Finance Bill amendment, which would have forced a negotiation with the EU to reduce VAT rate, by 305 to 287 votes. HM Revenue and Customs [...]
Tax credit changes: House of Lords slams government by voting twice to delay tax credit cuts October 26, 2015 In a move that Downing Street has accused of breaking convention, the House of Lords has twice voted to delay the implementation of the government's controversial tax credit cuts, backing amendments from both Labour peer Baroness Hollis and crossbench peer Baroness Meacher. Baroness Hollis's amendment, which passed 289 to 272, required a three-year "transitional period" with "full protection" for [...]
Tax credit changes: the four ways the House of Lords could vote today October 26, 2015 The government's plans to cut tax credits will face their fiercest opposition yet today as peers consider killing the reforms. The House of Lords is set to debate and vote on four amendments this afternoon to the proposed cuts to in-work benefits, including a “fatal motion” which could stop the cuts altogether but trigger a [...]
Tax credit cuts poll: Over half of Londoners want chancellor George Osborne to make changes, but Britons accept it as necessary October 26, 2015 Two polls on chancellor George Osborne's controversial decision to cut tax credits have found that six in 10 Londoners want chancellor George Osborne to amend the government's controversial decision to cut tax credits, but many Britons accept it is necessary. A London based poll, released by campaigning group 38 Degrees and conducted by YouGov, shows 58 per cent of [...]
Seven points to ponder from Jeremy Corbyn’s alternative to the northern powerhouse October 26, 2015 Jeremy Corbyn has been under pressure from more moderate Labour politicians for his economic plans, but what does he want to achieve in his desire to see the North returned to a "great engine of prosperity" and how would he do it? Here are the seven things to take from Corbyn’s “Northern Future” proposals. The [...]
Government to face direct legal challenge over the ministerial code October 26, 2015 A direct legal challenge is to be made against the government and Prime Minister David Cameron over changes to the ministerial code. On Thursday the government changed the wording of the ministerial code, which now omits a previous reference to ministers being bound by international law. The code sets out the standard of conduct expected of government [...]
Recruiters are more likely to be hit hard by late payments and wait more than twice as long to be paid October 26, 2015 Recruitment firms are waiting more than twice as long as the average British company to be paid by their clients, according to a new report out today from the commercial law firm EMW. According to EMW, recruiters have to wait 56 days, on average, to be paid for their services, compared to the average UK [...]
Tax credit changes: Chancellor George Osborne braces for House of Lords row October 26, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne’s plans to cut tax credits are expected to face their fiercest opposition yet today as peers consider killing the reforms. The House of Lords is set to debate and vote on three amendments to the proposed cuts to in-work benefits, including a “fatal motion” which would stop the legislation from going into effect. [...]
Sugar tax debate: Sainsbury’s ready meal contains more sugar than a can of Coca Cola, reveals Public Health England October 25, 2015 Who says you can't have too much of a good thing? Well, some supermarket ready meals contain almost twice as much sugar as those often-vilified cans of fizzy drinks. Sainsbury's crispy sweet and sour chicken, is the worst offender, with 61.2g of sugar in a 400g serving, which is the equivalent to almost 13 teaspoons. [...]
UK steel crisis: Industry leaders to be grilled by MPs after Tata Steel and SSI closures October 25, 2015 The extent of the crisis that has engulfed Britain’s steel industry will be laid bare tomorrow when business ministers and industry figures are questioned by a committee of MPs. The Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) select committee hearing, set for tomorrow afternoon, will address the problems of cheap steel from China, rising energy costs, and [...]