Spring Statement: Chancellor to consult on new ways of funding infrastructure projects March 13, 2019 The government is to launch a consultation on how the government pays for infrastructure projects such as Crossrail and HS2 in future, the chancellor said today. In a Spring Statement overshadowed by an impending vote by MPs on whether to accept a no-deal Brexit, Philip Hammond said he would consult business on how to fund [...]
Spring Statement: Philip Hammond demands Brexit consensus as he warns of no deal dangers March 13, 2019 Philip Hammond used his Spring Statement today to urge MPs to compromise on Brexit as he launched a savage assessment on the economic risk of ‘no deal’. Speaking a day after parliament again voted down Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement, the chancellor said leaving the EU without a deal would increase unemployment and food prices, and [...]
Boris Johnson invokes anger by claiming historic child sexual abuse probe money is ‘spaffed up the wall’ March 13, 2019 Boris Johnson came under fire today for “disgusting” comments he made saying public money was being “spaffed up the wall” on investigating historic cases of child abuse. The former London mayor made the remarks on LBC, saying the money would be better spent on tackling knife crime. Read more: Boris Johnson urges May to secure [...]
Bank for International Settlements warns central banks over risk posed by cryptocurrency exposure March 13, 2019 The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has warned banks that cryptocurrencies could pose a risk to financial stability. The BIS Basel Committee, which sets regulatory standards for central banks, said the growth of crypto asset trading platforms and new financial products could increase the risks faced by lenders. Read more: Most UK consumers unable to [...]
ii winter portfolios 2018-19 deliver mega profits March 13, 2019 | City Talk Four months into this six-month strategy and both our winter portfolios are thriving, writes Lee Wild. Finding a trading strategy that works 100 per cent of the time is the Holy Grail of investing. We’re not claiming to have found it here, and seasonal trading is not for everyone, but there is a statistical anomaly backed [...]
DEBATE: With just 16 days to go until Brexit, is there any point to the Spring Statement? March 13, 2019 With just 16 days to go until Brexit, is there any point to the Spring Statement? Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG, says YES. While Brexit is likely to dominate minds again this week, and continue to bring a fog of uncertainty over the outlook for the UK economy, the Spring Statement is still important. [...]
The left should listen up: Tax reform is a progressive cause March 13, 2019 In 2012, the columnist Mary Dejevsky wrote a piece for the Independent arguing that the centre-left should advocate a flat tax. It was in response to the publication of the Single Income Tax, the final report of the 2020 Tax Commission, convened by the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) and the Institute of Directors, and chaired by former [...]
Consumers hurt by lack of tech giant regulation, independent review finds March 13, 2019 Tech giants do not face enough competition and new laws are required to increase consumer choice in the digital sector, an independent review has found. The report, which was commissioned by chancellor Philip Hammond, states tech firms have become increasingly dominant in the market, limiting the control consumers have over their personal data. Read more: [...]
Brexiteers have imperilled their own project March 12, 2019 The fact that 40 Tory MPs who previously voted against the deal swung behind the PM is significant – and will be seized upon by Downing Street strategists as evidence that there is life in her deal yet. Some big beasts are among the pro-Brexit Tories who voted last night in favour of the deal, [...]
Theresa May suffers second Brexit deal defeat as MPs take control of the next steps March 12, 2019 Theresa May has lost control of Brexit after suffering a second humiliating defeat on her withdrawal deal. The PM’s plan was voted down by a majority of 149 MPs after she failed to win changes to the treaty that would allow UK to unilaterally exit the controversial Irish border backstop arrangement. MPs will now vote on [...]