The threat of higher taxes is already harming growth October 9, 2024 An important reason why there was zero growth in June and July is that households are saving bigger proportions of their incomes, says Paul Ormerod The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, had made no secret of her desire to make economic growth her top policy objective. She reinforced the message this week in an interview with the [...]
Rachel Reeves promises to ‘revolutionise’ UK capital markets and boost London listings October 8, 2024 Ministers and regulators have made urgent efforts to inject more life into Britain's capital markets amid a dearth of IPO activity and heavy outflows from UK equity funds.
Gilt yields rise ahead of Budget as Chancellor Reeves set to increase borrowing October 8, 2024 Analysts suggested that the increase was largely a result of concerns that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will ramp up borrowing in the budget to fund a major investment programme.
HS2 will reach Euston, transport secretary signals October 8, 2024 Transport secretary Louise Haigh has given the strongest signal yet that HS2 will reach London’s Euston station, ahead of an announcement she said would be coming soon. The Cabinet minister said an announcement on the project could occur during the Budget on Wednesday, 30 October. Speaking to Times Radio this morning, Haigh said: “We’ve said [...]
‘Challenging policy’: What the pushback to private school VAT plans reveals October 8, 2024 VAT… easy as ABC? It may not quite be Blair’s ‘education, education, education’ mantra, or Michael Gove’s multi-academy trusts. But for Sir Keir ‘my-father-was-a-toolmaker’ Starmer, there’s been one education policy that’s been front and centre of his manifesto and the first 100 days. This is, of course, the plan to impose VAT on private school [...]
Adopt new fiscal rules to break UK’s low-growth trap, IPPR says October 8, 2024 The current set of fiscal rules, the UK's ninth, has come under fire from a range of different quarters for their perceived impact in disincentivising government investment.
Pension death tax an ‘area to target’ experts say October 8, 2024 In a new report, the industry body discussed the wide range of changes to pension taxes which Reeves is rumoured to be considering ahead of the budget, warning there were "no easy solutions".
Businesses ‘clearly anxious’ as budget approaches, survey shows October 8, 2024 The BCC's quarterly economic survey showed that 48 per cent of firms cited taxation as a worry, up from 36 per cent the quarter before.
Chancellor’s tightrope walk will leave us holding our breath October 8, 2024 By tradition, Chancellors are allowed a stiff drink at the despatch box as they deliver their Budget. Parliamentary records tell us that Gladstone enjoyed sherry and beaten egg while the most recent Chancellor to indulge in this ancient right, Ken Clarke, opted for a straight whiskey. Since then, there’s been nothing but water in the [...]
‘Hugely damaging’: AJ Bell warns Reeves against pension tax raid October 7, 2024 AJ Bell has added to mounting calls for Rachel Reeves to retreat from a raid on UK pensioners today as it warned rumours of the government’s tax plans were “hugely damaging” and “making people fearful about long-term saving”. In a call to the Chancellor, the FTSE 250 savings and investment platform, which is headquartered in [...]