Growth forecasts and a lack of ambition portend a grim economic future March 24, 2022 For all the pageantry of yesterday’s spring statement, the truth is that just one thing really matters: the drastic, deeply concerning downgrade in the UK’s growth forecasts. There are only so many political sleight of hands that any Chancellor can do to hide the fact that unless the UK finds the secret sauce of sustained [...]
Hong Kong to soon ‘open up to world’ just as Singapore eases its own restrictions March 24, 2022 Hong Kong is looking likely to “open up to the rest of the world” once its latest Covid-19 wave fades, before the lights of Singapore grow too tempting for corporate expats. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she is “very optimistic” the financial hub will soon pull off pandemic restrictions which have blanketed the city [...]
Ministers urged to stop running ‘government by WhatsApp’ amid Johnson’s missing phone history March 24, 2022 Campaigners have called on ministers to be banned from using their personal mobiles to carry out official business.
Kremlin shock admission as Putin spokesman Peskov says Russia has ‘not achieved anything yet’ in Ukraine March 24, 2022 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has stalled. However, asked on CNN what Russian President Vladimir Putin has achieved in Ukraine, he said: “Well, first of all not yet. He hasn’t achieved anything yet.” But he insisted the military operation was going “strictly in accordance with the plans and purposes [...]
Rishi Sunak admits Brits face ‘challenging and uncertain’ times after Spring Budget March 24, 2022 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the country is facing “challenging and uncertain” times after official forecasters predicted the biggest fall in living standards on record. Following his spring statement on Wednesday, the Chancellor insisted the Government was “on the side of hard-working families”. But Labour said that he had done nothing to tackle the cost-of-living [...]
Ukraine forces hold off advance on outskirts of Kyiv as UK pledges more weapons March 23, 2022 Ukrainian forces fought back attempted Russian advances on the outskirts of Kyiv today as the UK promised to send more defensive weapons to the country. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said skirmishes had intensified on the outskirts of the capital, with Ukrainian forces allegedly securing “the small city of Makariv and almost all of Irpin”. Russia’s stalling [...]
Anatoly Chubais: Top Russian envoy steps down and leaves the country after criticising war in Ukraine March 23, 2022 A senior and respected Russian official has stepped down from his role of climate envoy and left the country, after opposing Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. Anatoly Chubais quit Moscow this week according to Bloomberg, becoming the highest-ranking person to get out since the start of the war last month. This comes after Russia was [...]
Ministry of Defence calls on YouTube to axe Ben Wallace hoax call March 23, 2022 The Ministry of Defence have called on YouTube to remove videos of a hoax call to defence minister Ben Wallace.
As it happened: Rishi Sunak’s Spring Budget 2022 March 23, 2022 Live updates and links to all our coverage, reactions and analyses as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, delivers the government’s Spring Budget for 2022 . Please do get in touch and let us know your opinion via news@cityam.com or @Cityam With the cost of living crisis, rising inflation, war in Ukraine and [...]
Sunak gives National Insurance help and promises 2024 income tax cut March 23, 2022 Rishi Sunak has increased the income threshold for National Insurance in a £330 annual tax cut for employees, while also delivering a gloomy updated forecast for the UK economy. Sunak said in his spring statement that the threshold at which employees pay National Insurance will be lifted by £3,000 to £12,570 in what he called [...]