Starmer needs a rethink, not a relaunch December 4, 2024 It doesn’t take a huge stretch of the imagination to picture a communist bureaucrat issuing a decree: “Comrades, I can announce today that four years from now 92 per cent of routine operations will be carried out within our new national target of just four and a half months – realising a goal that has [...]
Changing tune: Now Reeves refuses to rule out future tax rises December 3, 2024 Rachel Reeves has repeatedly declined to guarantee that there will be no more borrowing or tax rises following her first Budget, despite being pressed by MPs on her previous pledge. Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference in November, the Chancellor sought to reassure business leaders that there would be no repeat of [...]
From porridge to pizza: Junk food ban will have ‘inevitable impact on growth’ – advertisers warn December 3, 2024 A pre-watershed ban on advertising junk food will have an “inevitable impact” on the UK’s “wider economic growth”, an advertising industry body has warned. The government claims the new policy, which will come into force from October 2025, will prevent an estimated 20,000 cases of childhood obesity. Legislation published on Tuesday afternoon reveals the broad [...]
Starmer vows to put Ukraine ‘in strongest possible position for negotiations’ with Russia December 2, 2024 The Prime Minister will say that Ukraine must be put in the “strongest possible position for negotiations” with Russia, addressing the possibility of a negotiated settlement for the first time. Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet, Sir Keir Starmer will tell attendees at the white tie Guildhall dinner that the eastern European nation must be [...]
UK needs to innovate at wartime pace, defence secretary says December 2, 2024 The UK needs “innovation at a wartime pace”, the defence secretary has said as he announced a new strategy for the industry. As he launched a defence industrial strategy, which is being developed alongside the government’s strategic defence review, John Healey said war game exercises to test the military’s capabilities will be carried out with [...]
New jobs for former Chancellor Philip Hammond and Labour’s Iain McNicol December 2, 2024 The former Chancellor and the former general secretary of the Labour Party Lord Iain McNicol have joined the board of a tax consultancy
New top civil service boss named to replace Simon Case December 2, 2024 Sir Chris Wormald, a former health department boss, has been named as the new head of the UK’s civil service and cabinet secretary. Downing Street confirmed the appointment of Sir Chris, who will replace Simon Case in the head of the civil service role, advertised with a £200,000 salary, this afternoon. Wormald has led the [...]
Keir Starmer accused of ‘sidelining’ pledge to secure fastest growth in G7 December 2, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of “sidelining” his pledge for the UK to have the fastest growth in the G7 ahead of a set of new targets aimed at making Brits feel richer. The Prime Minister has been criticised for appearing to ditch the “key election pledge” in what a Tory opponent told The [...]
Budget could wipe out 125,000 jobs in family businesses December 2, 2024 The government’s move to limit inheritance tax relief for family-owned businesses could cost Britain roughly 125,000 jobs and significantly reduce economic activity, new research has found. The change unveiled in Labour’s first Budget could reduce the value of goods and services produced across the UK economy by £9.4bn and incur a £1.3bn net loss for [...]
‘Losing faith’: Just one in four bosses has confidence in government December 2, 2024 Just one in four bosses has confidence in the government to deliver economic growth, in a sign firms are “losing faith” in ministers’ strategy. A London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) snap poll found 81 per cent of business leaders said they were not confident the government will address firms’ concerns. While 77 per [...]