Government: Israel’s escalation in the Middle East ‘in no one’s interest’ October 26, 2024 The government said it is monitoring the unfolding situation in the Middle East “closely” after Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting military sites in Iran. The attacks did not target nuclear or oil facilities, two Israeli officials confirmed to the Associated Press. A government spokesman said on Saturday morning: “We are monitoring this situation [...]
Budget 2024: Warning pubs and breweries could face extra £310m bill October 25, 2024 Pubs and breweries could face an extra £310m bill after the Budget, an industry lobby group has warned. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that a hike in business rates and beer duty could leave Britain’s drinking spots struggling. Additional costs could stifle growth and threaten jobs, with some [...]
‘Wasteful’ disposable vapes to be banned by next June October 24, 2024 Disposable vape sales will be banned by next summer, the government has said, branding the e-cigarette products “wasteful”. Fresh legislation to ban the sale of single-use vaping devices from June 2025 was introduced before Parliament on Wednesday. The government says an estimated five million single-use vapes were littered or thrown away each week last year [...]
Businesses paying living wage ‘do better’, Sadiq Khan says October 23, 2024 Businesses paying their staff the living wage “do better”, Sadiq Khan has argued, as he welcomed a rise in the London living wage. The Mayor of London spoke to City AM at an event marking the five per cent increase for 140,000 workers, who will see their pay increase to £13.85 an hour. Speaking in [...]
Column: Water, water everywhere… October 23, 2024 Or why the latest twist in the sewage tale suggests a rebalancing of Labour’s priorities England’s water system made a splash again this week, hitting the headlines as the government announced their latest move to – as they put it – clean up the industry. An independent review, led by none other than the former [...]
Millions pumped into anti-fraud work as DWP staff costs jump almost 200 per cent October 23, 2024 The Department for Work and Pensions has increased its anti-fraud staff costs by nearly 200 per cent since 2021, as it seeks to crackdown on fraud
Lloyds finance chief calls for ‘pro-growth’ Budget amid fears of bank tax raid October 23, 2024 Lloyds Banking Group’s finance chief has suggested tax rises on UK banks could hinder lending and investment as the sector braces for a possible raid in the government’s maiden Budget next week. Speaking after Lloyds’ third quarter results this morning, William Chalmers said banks are already among Britain’s biggest taxpayers and the FTSE 100 group [...]
Scrapping Ofwat could be considered by new water sector commission October 22, 2024 Scrapping watchdog Ofwat could be considered by a new independent commission on the water sector as ministers aim to attract investment into the industry. Ministers have launched the largest review of the sector since it was privatised, with the commission set to be chaired by former deputy Bank of England Governor Sir Jon Cunliffe. It [...]
Jeremy Hunt: Upping employer NI would be an ‘absolute disaster’ for economy October 22, 2024 Increasing employer national insurance contributions in the Budget would be an “absolute disaster” for Britain economically, Jeremy Hunt has warned. “I’m really worried that Labour is going to trash an economy, which has better growth prospects than it has for many years,” the shadow Chancellor told the Financial Times in an interview. On the prospect [...]
It’s hard work working out what ‘working people’ means October 22, 2024 Politicians do like to lump people together. In recent years we’ve had the squeezed middle, the just-about-managing, hard working families and (who could forget?) Nick Clegg’s “alarm clock Britain.” To this list of amorphous jargon we must now add “working people.” Labour figures have been leaning on the phrase for months, not least as part [...]