UK businesses warn of financial strain ahead of digital tax rules April 29, 2025 A majority of UK small business owners are concerned about the financial and operational pressures of HMRC’s upcoming ‘making tax digital‘ (MTD) reforms to income tax. MTD for income tax, set to take effect from April 2026, will require self-employed individuals and landlords earnings over £50,000 to maintain digital records and submit quarterly updates using [...]
Westminster’s Everythingism problem: Why trying to solve everything all at once has ruined politics April 10, 2025 The belief that every policy can be used to deliver every other policy is rife in Westminster, and it's costing us real progress, writes Joe Hill.
Interpol has a Russia problem March 27, 2025 The Kremlin is weaponising red notices to silence its enemies - and Interpol is tolerating it, write Ben Keith and Rhys Davies.
Spring Statement 2025: Reeves misses trick ignoring sport and Old Trafford March 27, 2025 Standing at the dispatch box on Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her much anticipated Spring Statement. Just months after her autumn fiscal plan, where she hiked taxes by £40bn and confirmed funding for a football regulator which continues to divide the game, the member of parliament for Leeds West and Pudsey – and one of [...]
MPs’ salaries to hit £93,904 in April March 24, 2025 It has been confirmed that MPs’ salaries will rise by almost three per cent to £93,904 in the next financial year. Parliament’s expenses watchdog has announced members of the House of Commons will benefit from a 2.8 per cent increase in pay from next month. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) said the pay rise [...]
Champions Trophy: What competition tells us about politics in sport February 23, 2025 It feels like cricket forces upon itself a major tournament every year. There’s T20 Cricket World Cups, 50-over World Cups and – taking place now in Pakistan – the Champions Trophy. Despite being ditched on multiple occasions, and not being held since 2017, the Champions Trophy is under way. But it is, in reality, an [...]
Minister Peacock apologises to Brady, Arsenal and Brighton chiefs February 21, 2025 Sport Minister Stephanie Peacock has been forced to issue an apology to Baroness Brady and directors of Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion “for any distress caused” after hitting back at critics of the football regulator. In a statement published today by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) today, Peacock said she had [...]
Londoners are getting a bad deal from local government February 11, 2025 Ever rising council tax means London boroughs are better funded, yet they continue to spend beyond their means, with a £500m shortfall expected this year, says Shimeon Lee London is a city steeped in history. The governance of London is equally ancient, with the City of London dating back to medieval times. Yet while the [...]
Delays to local elections not a ‘stitch-up’, says Angela Rayner February 9, 2025 Angela Rayner has denied that delays to local elections are a “stitch-up” after votes in nine council areas due to be held in May were postponed. The deputy prime minister, was asked about the perception that labour could be delaying elections due to a fear of reform UK making gains, after Nigel Farage accused the [...]
Nandy rejects football regulator pay fears: ‘£130k is more than reasonable’ February 7, 2025 Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has dismissed concerns that the incoming football regulator’s effectiveness will be inhibited by more modest public sector pay. Recruitment for the regulator’s first chair is under way but fears have been raised that the calibre of candidate could be restricted by the salary of £130,000 for the part-time role. While still [...]