Why we don’t know how much a ‘National Care Service’ could cost UK January 3, 2025 Health secretary Wes Streeting has unveiled the government’s latest move towards reform of the UK’s social care system. Taking the form of an independent commission into the issue, led by Baroness Louise Casey, the review – reporting in 2026 and 2028 – will aim to build “cross-party consensus” for the creation of a new National [...]
Firms hiring low-wage workers set for tax bill hike, CPS think tank warns January 3, 2025 The cost of employing low-wage workers is set to hit a record high in 2025, according to new analysis. Businesses employing low-wage workers will see their tax bills soar, the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) has warned, after research found the rise in employer’s national insurance contributions (NICs) led to a 60 per cent tax [...]
Spectre of another Labour tax raid haunts savers January 2, 2025 83 per cent of customers surveyed by the retail investment platform said they were either very concerned or somewhat concerned about tax increases in 2025.
Sport in 2025: A rallying cry to London, Mayor Khan and Londoners January 2, 2025 For at least the past five years it has felt as if London was disappearing off the global sporting stage. The capital may boast the Home of Cricket, 17 professional football clubs and five stadiums with a capacity of over 50,000 but huge sporting events have sought refuge in the likes of Saudi Arabia, the [...]
Small boats: Crackdown on suspected smuggling gangs as migrant numbers up January 2, 2025 Suspected people smugglers could face travel and social media bans as the government announced a fresh crackdown in its bid to “smash the gangs” and cut arrivals on small boats. Court orders to restrict the activity of those under investigation for such crimes will be strengthened as part of draft legislation to be introduced in [...]
KPMG: UK households plan to splash the cash in 2025 December 31, 2024 The positive picture from households contrasted with a more gloomy view about the state of the economy more broadly.
Can you match the quote to the MP who said it in 2024? December 30, 2024 From election campaigning, to Labour’s first months in office, 2024 has been chock-full of memorable political moments. And for our politicians, the past 12 months have seen some memorable quotes enter the record books too. Take a look back at our 2024 quotes quiz and test your political memory.
King and Queen ‘profoundly saddened’ by South Korea plane crash December 29, 2024 The Prime Minister and the King have paid condolences to loved ones of the 179 people killed in the South Korea plane crash. The Jeju Air passenger plane was carrying 181 people when it skidded off a runway at Muan International Airport, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames after its front landing [...]
From Trump to COP: A look ahead to the political year in 2025 December 29, 2024 After a whirlwind of a political year in 2024, with elections in the US, UK and across much of the globe, 2025 is already shaping up to be another momentous 12 months. From the return of President Donald Trump to the White House in January, to the challenges ahead for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, [...]
Private school fees VAT hike to take effect on New Year’s Day December 29, 2024 Private school fees are to become subject to VAT from New Year’s Day as ministers reportedly draw up plans to handle a potential wave of school closures. The government’s policy to end the charitable status of fee-paying schools which exempts them from paying 20 per cent value added tax (VAT) to the Treasury as of [...]