Starmer’s defence pledges will trigger a tax bombshell June 3, 2025 Here’s a cracker of a pub quiz question for you: what links mega-rich non-doms, nuclear-powered submarines, congestion in Wigan and the Bank of England’s former chief economist? The answer, as so often appears to be the case, is tax. On the day that Keir Starmer unveiled a Strategic Defence Review that calls for nearly £70bn [...]
New £500m university science grant can ‘commercialise discoveries’ November 13, 2024 The government has announced it will stump up £500m for 4,700 post-graduate engineering and science university places in a bid to drive long-term economic growth. Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle made the announcement today, with universities and industry set to reap the benefits. The scheme will fund 4,700 new places, equating to around £106,000 [...]
Long-time IFS director Paul Johnson to step down October 17, 2024 Johnson, who became Director of the IFS in January 2011, will take up the role of Provost of Queen's College, Oxford.
Public backs online gambling tax raid as rumours of duty hike swirl October 15, 2024 Hiking taxes on online casino gambling would raise the government as much as £900m and has the support of over half of UK voters, according to a report from an influential think tank. The study by centrist think tank the Social Market Foundation (SMF), proposed a doubling of the rate of tax on online gambling, [...]
Taxes might have to go up by £25bn in Budget, IFS says October 10, 2024 Rachel Reeves may have to raise taxes by £25bn in the Budget if she wants to improve the delivery of public services, the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said today. Although the Chancellor looks set to reform the fiscal rules to enable more borrowing for investment, Reeves has committed to meet day-to-day spending out [...]
IFS backs death tax on ‘flawed’ capital gains to boost growth October 6, 2024 The “whole design of capital gains tax is flawed,” the Institute for Fiscal Studies has claimed, advocating for a complete overhaul of the tax rather than simply raising it. The influential think tank has advocated for scrapping the tax break of capital gains at death today, arguing that it creates a large incentive for people [...]
Tax burden ‘will not fall in my lifetime’ warns IFS chief September 30, 2024 Over recent years the tax burden has climbed to a post-war high of 37 per cent of national income despite the attempts of the previous government to cut taxes.
IFS: Clumsy capital gains reform could ‘harm government’s growth mission’ September 21, 2024 The influential think tank said the levy was "crying out for reform", but warned that poorly designed measures could do more harm than good.
Companies need to boost employee pensions says IFS September 16, 2024 Approximately 30 per cent to 40 per cent of private sector employees will have individual incomes in retirement that fall short of standard benchmarks, the IFS said.
The winter fuel cut is Starmer’s first peek into the Too Difficult Box. Now give him courage! September 11, 2024 Means-testing winter fuel payments show Starmer is willing to peek into the Too Difficult Box, but he must resist to urge to slam it shut again, writes James Price