New top civil service boss named to replace Simon Case December 2, 2024 Sir Chris Wormald, a former health department boss, has been named as the new head of the UK’s civil service and cabinet secretary. Downing Street confirmed the appointment of Sir Chris, who will replace Simon Case in the head of the civil service role, advertised with a £200,000 salary, this afternoon. Wormald has led the [...]
Keir Starmer accused of ‘sidelining’ pledge to secure fastest growth in G7 December 2, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of “sidelining” his pledge for the UK to have the fastest growth in the G7 ahead of a set of new targets aimed at making Brits feel richer. The Prime Minister has been criticised for appearing to ditch the “key election pledge” in what a Tory opponent told The [...]
‘Losing faith’: Just one in four bosses has confidence in government December 2, 2024 Just one in four bosses has confidence in the government to deliver economic growth, in a sign firms are “losing faith” in ministers’ strategy. A London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) snap poll found 81 per cent of business leaders said they were not confident the government will address firms’ concerns. While 77 per [...]
Labour urged to scrap ‘vindictive’ farm tax as Tories set to force vote December 1, 2024 Labour MPs are being urged to back scrapping the “vindictive” changes to inheritance tax (IHT) on farms, as the Conservative Party prepares to bring a vote on the issue. Tory MPs are set to use their opposition day debate on Wednesday, December 4, to insist Parliament hold a vote on Labour’s controversial move for farmers [...]
No ‘numerical’ migration target but UK should train own workers, minister says December 1, 2024 The UK won’t have a “numerical target” for net migration but should focus on training “our own workforce”, a cabinet minister has said. Pat McFadden has said the government wouldn’t be putting a figure on the level of net migration it wanted to see as part of the wider plan for change to be announced [...]
Starmer to unveil ‘mission’ milestones and compares Whitehall to ‘oil tanker’ December 1, 2024 The Prime Minister will set out a “plan for change” with milestones set in key policy areas, or ‘missions’ to achieve the targets laid out in Labour’s manifesto, Downing Street has said. Sir Keir Starmer will this week kick off what he called the “next phase” of his government, and announce the markers for achieving [...]
UK net migration hit record 906,000 peak before 20 per cent fall November 28, 2024 Net migration in and out of the UK has dropped by 20 per cent to around 728,000 in the past year, official figures have shown, after hitting a record peak of 906,000. The level reached a higher than previously thought figure of 906,000 in the year to June 2023, according to fresh data from the [...]
Ministers are in denial over the Budget’s impact on jobs and growth November 28, 2024 Well, that didn’t last long. Barely 48 hours after the Chancellor told the CBI conference that the tax-hiking Budget was definitely a one-off, Keir Starmer declined to echo her comments and instead left the door wide open to another round of tax increases and borrowing. We ought to have some sympathy; no Prime Minister can [...]
Stellantis closure: UK carmakers face ‘global’ challenges, Reynolds warns November 27, 2024 UK carmakers are facing “global challenges”, Jonathan Reynolds has warned, in the wake of Vauxhall owner Stellantis announcing plans to close its Luton plant. The business secretary said issues in the industry amid the shift to electric vehicles weren’t limited to the firm and insisted ministers did “everything we possibly could” to avert closure. Dutch [...]
Starmer refuses to rule out further tax rises or more borrowing November 27, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out further tax rises or additional borrowing when challenged to repeat his Chancellor’s pledge not to “come back with more”. During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch asked Starmer about Rachel Reeves’ words. She said: “At the Confederation [...]