Brown in 50p tax row May 20, 2009 PRIME Minister Gordon Brown and outgoing CBI president Martin Broughton were last night at loggerheads over the new 50p top tax rate. Broughton launched a scathing attack on the policy, accusing Brown of “economic vandalism”. But Brown hit back, saying that while he had no “desire or wish” to raise tax, he needed to lower [...]
CBI president elect tells firms to hire women May 18, 2009 FORMER Economist editor Helen Alexander has told firms to hire more women for boardroom roles, just hours after being nominated as the next president of industry union the CBI. Alexander warned yesterday there is a risk of “group think” at firms that only put white men in senior roles, arguing the benefits of diversity justify [...]
Don’t punish energy firms, says CBI boss September 5, 2008 Imposing an “arbitrary and unfair tax on the energy industry” is the worst way to help the economy Richard Lambert, CBI director general said in a speech yesterday. Lambert said market forces must be allowed to work through the system: “There are no silver bullets to halt the decline in the housing market, or to [...]
House price fall takes UK to the brink August 29, 2008 Economy on the verge of crisis as house prices fall at their sharpest rate for 18 years Fresh evidence that Britain’s economy is on the brink of crisis continues to emerge after August house prices fell at their sharpest annual rate in 18 years and retail sales slumped. House prices fell 1.9 per cent during [...]
Triple blow for battered UK economy August 12, 2008 Retail sales and housing market suffer as struggling consumers rein in spending Britain’s battered economy will be dealt a triple whammy today, with fresh evidence that the housing market and consumer spending are continuing to contract and that manufacturers are being hammered by soaring costs. This summer has been the worst on the high street [...]
We were too optimistic, CBI admits August 11, 2008 Inflation is set to reach 5 per cent this year, the employers’ group warns its members Business should brace itself for a prolonged rocky ride as the economy deteriorates faster than expected, CBI director-general Richard Lambert has warned. In a letter to members of the UK’s largest business group, Lambert said forecasters, including the CBI, [...]
UK industry is modern, high-tech and a good bet for savvy investors July 25, 2008 Funds and ETFs can help get you exposure to an area that promises to flourish, writes Phil Thornton Barely a day goes by without a new portent of doom and gloom for some part of the UK economy, whether for financials, retailers or housebuilding. But one sector may offer a glimmer of hope during a [...]
Reprieve for foreign profit taxation plan July 21, 2008 Chancellor Alistair Darling is considering axe-ing unpopular plans to reform the taxation of foreign profits that threatened to drive businesses away to tax havens outside the UK. Since the Treasury set out proposals last year to clamp down on tax avoidance, including introducing UK taxes on foreign profits and passive income, several companies have already [...]
Bischoff joins City talkshop July 14, 2008 Chancellor Alistair Darling is to chair a working group looking at competitiveness in Britain which will include Citigroup chairman Sir Win Bischoff. The group will meet once a month and will analyse matters affecting the London financial services industry such as the effects of the subprime mortgage meltdown in America which triggered the credit crunch, [...]
Hopes for rate cut dashed as house prices begin recovery November 2, 2005 The odds on the Bank of England cutting interest rates for the second time in four months lengthened yesterday after the release of a raft of better than expected economic data. The latest snapshot of the housing market by leading lender Nationwide showed prices jumped 1.3 per cent, the fastest rate in 15 months, bringing [...]