Workers’ rights fines will harm growth and jobs, small businesses warn September 3, 2024 The government risks “reversing economic growth” and disincentivising hiring if it pursues plans to issue “punitive” fines to businesses that breach its workers’ rights plan, industry leaders have warned. Businesses face paying thousands of pounds in fines if they fall foul of the new protections that Labour are hoping to introduce, it was revealed on [...]
Supermarket and McDonald’s bosses to meet ministers over workers’ rights reforms September 2, 2024 Bosses from UK supermarkets and McDonald’s are set to meet government ministers to be updated on plans for new laws around workers rights. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds will join John Lewis CEO Nish Kankiwala; Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts; Claire Costello, chief people and inclusion officer at the Co-Op; and [...]
‘No plans’ to raise council tax but cut to discount not ruled out September 2, 2024 The government has no plans to increase English council taxes, Angela Rayner confirmed, but she declined to say whether she would scrap the single person discount to the bill. The deputy Prime Minister, who is also the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, said her government “is about making sure working people [...]
Tory leadership race gets underway as Badenoch and Cleverly launch small state campaigns September 2, 2024 The Conservative leadership race was set alight today as frontrunner Kemi Badenoch and rival James Cleverly launched their campaigns, both calling for a “state that does less”. Former business and trade secretary Badenoch argued: “Government should do fewer things but better – and what it does, it should do with brilliance.” While former foreign and [...]
Workers’ rights: New agency to issue businesses with large fines September 2, 2024 Businesses face paying large fines from a newly formed agency if they are found to have breached Labour’s proposed workers’ rights laws. As Parliament returns this week, ministers are reportedly weighing up the practicalities of the far-reaching package that includes controversial reforms like a ban on “exploitative” zero hours contracts, granting day-one rights after probation, [...]
MP ‘profoundly sorry’ for alleged ‘pretty serious faults’ in flats he rents out August 31, 2024 A newly elected MP has said he is “profoundly sorry” for alleged “pretty serious faults” in some of the flats he rents out.
Four-day working week will not be imposed on employers, says Government August 30, 2024 The Government has denied it will force businesses to allow staff to work a four-day week but said it supports flexible working. Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith dismissed a report in The Telegraph that Labour’s Make Work Pay plans could force businesses to accept employees’ demands for a four-day week. She told LBC radio: “We [...]
How much could a UK bank windfall tax raise? August 29, 2024 The banking sector is considered an easy target for an energy-style windfall tax, with lenders enjoying record profits on the back of interest rate hikes from the Bank of England last year.
CBI: Roadmap needed as firms struggle amid rising wealth tax rumours August 29, 2024 Publishing a long-term tax roadmap would address the “confidence shortfall” among UK firms, the Confederation for British Industry (CBI) has urged the government, amid swirling rumours of a wealth tax. Businesses are facing “cost pressures” and “middling conditions” and in need of a “major boost to confidence”, the CBI has said, following hints from Sir [...]
Average Northerner to be £210,000 less wealthy as Labour urged to reform taxes amid fears of autumn raid grow August 29, 2024 New analysis from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) showed that the UK's tax regime is "driving regional inequalities" by taxing wealth and income at different levels.