Sunak at G7: Post Brexit ‘vote of confidence’ as Japan firms to invest £18bn in the UK May 18, 2023 Japanese businesses are committing to invest nearly £18 billion in the UK, Rishi Sunak has announced as he meets the bosses of major firms in Tokyo. The Prime Minister said the pledges are a “massive vote of confidence” in the British economy after he painted an optimistic outlook for the national finances. But Mr Sunak [...]
Starmer vows to break high-tax, low-growth ‘doom loop’ May 18, 2023 Sir Keir Starmer has vowed the Labour Party will ensure “investment thrives” in order to boost growth in the UK economy if he is elected Prime Minister. The opposition leader hinted he would step up government investment and launch policies to boost private investment. Asked by City A.M. about investment and tax and spending policies, [...]
Sunak in China row over Confucius Institute U-turn May 18, 2023 Downing Street has refused to elaborate on Rishi Sunak’s decision not to ban controversial Confucius Institutes from operating in the UK. The Prime Minister previously pledged during his leadership bid to bar the 30 Beijing-linked organisations from running on UK soil. Confucius institutes are Chinese cultural and language outposts. But he has now walked back [...]
Critics pour cold water on sewage companies’ apology for spills May 18, 2023 Critics have poured cold water on sewage companies apologising for spills as they prepare to invest £10bn in modernisation. The bid to clean up Britain’s waters comes in the wake of campaigning from environmental activists and locals over the scale of sewage spillages from big water companies. Water UK, the industry membership body, yesterday announced [...]
Cost of living overwhelmingly top concern for UK public, poll finds May 17, 2023 The cost of living crisis continues to be the top concern for Britain’s voters, a new poll has found. Pollsters at More in Common (MiC) found 75 per cent of those surveyed cited the cost of living crisis as their number one priority that the government should address. Only 44 per cent said supporting the [...]
Jeremy Hunt pressed on Brexit tariffs after Stellantis warns of job cuts and car factory closures May 17, 2023 Jeremy Hunt insisted the government is “very focussed” on ensuring Britain improves its EV car manufacturing capacity, after Vauxhall and Fiat’s parent firm warned of Brexit-linked concerns. The Chancellor’s comments were made in the wake of worrying remarks by automaker Stellantis, saying the future post-Brexit tariffs could threaten sections of its UK business, placing hundreds [...]
Jeremy Hunt: UK not ‘in a position’ to know if it can cut taxes before election May 17, 2023 The government is currently not “in a position to know whether we’re going to have any headroom at all” to cut taxes in the run up to the next election, Jeremy Hunt claimed today. Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) annual conference, the Chancellor said he and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak “have our [...]
Starmer: ‘We’re not going to re-enter the EU – but the trade deal needs to be improved’ May 17, 2023 Sir Keir Starmer said the Brexit deal needed to be improved after the owner of Vauxhall said it will be unable to keep its commitment to make electric vehicles in the UK without changes to the trade agreement with the European Union. The Labour leader made his comments after one of the world’s largest carmakers [...]
US debt ceiling drama – what is it and why does it matter May 17, 2023 Markets are keeping a close eye on the US debt ceiling debacle – seemingly an attempt by US politicians to tip their own country into default. The debt ceiling is a limit on how much the US government can borrow imposed by Congress. Currently it stands at $31.4trn, although it has been raised 78 times [...]
Renters to get more rights under sweeping new legislation after multiple delays May 17, 2023 A new bill that will bolster renters’ rights will be tabled in Parliament today after being delayed multiple times. The Renters’ Reform Bill will abolish “no-fault” evictions, which allow landlords to end tenancies without having to establish fault on the part of the tenant. The bill will also expand the Decent Homes Standard – which [...]