Labour’s pro-business boasts ring hollow October 28, 2024 Rachel Reeves once vowed that if Labour won they “would be the most pro-business government this country has ever seen”. With just two days to go until the Budget, that pre-election pledge appears to be in the gutter. Reassuring the business community was an essential part of Labour’s pitch for power, but almost everything they’ve [...]
Autumn Budget 2024: Working people debate a ‘terrible illusion’, former Bank of England governor says October 27, 2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to increase taxes significantly in Wednesday's Budget, with reports indicating that she will raise £20bn by hiking employers' national insurance.
A Budget for stability must mean less is more October 27, 2024 As it prepares for its first Budget, it’s critical the government considers something important but quite dull: practicality If you’d attended the government’s International Investment Summit last week and your bingo card had the words ‘regulation’, ‘stability’ and ‘growth’ on it, you’d have been over the moon. Yes, both the Prime Minister and Chancellor were [...]
Chancellor to cut back Right to Buy discounts in Budget October 26, 2024 The Chancellor will cut back Right to Buy discounts as part of next week’s Budget to boost council housing supply. Rachel Reeves will announce plans to consult on a new five-year social housing rent settlement and to reduce Right to Buy, which allows tenants renting local authority-owned homes to buy them at a discounted rate, [...]
Starmer denies misleading the public over tax rises in Labour manifesto October 26, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer has denied misleading the public at the general election over tax plans after he suggested people who make money from shares and property could face greater levies. The Prime Minister rejected claims he was waging a “war on middle Britain” amid pre-Budget speculation he could increase the burden for those who have [...]
Inside UK non-doms’ battle for survival October 26, 2024 Had a passer-by inadvertently walked into Foreign Investors for Britain’s inaugural press conference earlier this month, they would have been forgiven for thinking they’d encountered an incongruous group therapy session. At one stage, an eastern European property tycoon asked the room: “Why am I suddenly being treated like a tax cheater? I’m being painted out [...]
Can the government tax its way to a building boom? October 26, 2024 Labour have big plans for house building and infrastructure so what can we expect on property taxes in the Budget? Tim Sarson has the answers Cut through the post-election chatter about black holes and freebies and there is one theme that keeps coming up as a top political priority. Building things. I can’t remember a [...]
Budget: Labour grandee warns pension tax hike rumours are ‘very worrying’ October 25, 2024 Rumours over a hike in employer national insurance contributions on pensions in next week’s Budget have been described as “very worrying” by Labour grandee David Blunkett. Blunkett, who served in Tony Blair’s cabinet as home secretary and secretary of state for work and pensions, said he would “advise strongly against” the changes in a letter [...]
Labour is playing a ‘dangerous game’ with capital gains tax, think tank says October 25, 2024 Currently the rate for higher earners is 20 per cent, but it’s 24 per cent for residential property on secondary homes.
Budget 2024: Warning pubs and breweries could face extra £310m bill October 25, 2024 Pubs and breweries could face an extra £310m bill after the Budget, an industry lobby group has warned. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that a hike in business rates and beer duty could leave Britain’s drinking spots struggling. Additional costs could stifle growth and threaten jobs, with some [...]