No Labour MP wants to cut winter fuel payments, but our commitment to pensioners is steadfast September 9, 2024 Tomorrow’s vote on winter fuel payments will be tough, but making and explaining hard choices is what Labour was elected to do, says Dan Tomlinson Tomorrow I will be voting for something which no Labour MP came into politics to vote for: means testing the winter fuel payment. That I and hundreds of my colleagues [...]
Labour smashes the “don’t mess with pensioners” rule September 9, 2024 Nothing in politics is more painful than the removal of a benefit to which the recipients have become accustomed. Successive Chancellors and Prime Ministers have discovered this, sometimes to their embarrassment and sometimes to their very great cost. Related to this first rule, comes another; don’t mess with pensioners. In fact, ‘not messing’ with them [...]
Rule changes will trigger a non-dom gotterdammerung September 9, 2024 Inheritance tax for non-doms poses a real risk of capital flight that could drive away jobs and risk public spending commitments, says Leslie MacLeod-Miller The UK is on the brink of economic self-sabotage. Proposed changes to the non-domicile (non-dom) tax regime could trigger a mass exodus of investors, taking jobs and tax revenue with them. [...]
Keir Starmer doubles down on ‘unpopular’ decision to restrict winter fuel payments September 8, 2024 "Every Labour MP was elected in on the same mandate as I was, which was to deliver the change that we need for the country," Starmer said.
Government must fix ‘antiquated’ business rates, firms and CBI urge September 6, 2024 The government must fix the “antiquated” business rates system which is dampening productivity and growth, firms and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has urged. A cross-sector panel including retail and manufacturing firms met to develop proposals to improve the current system in a bid to boost investment and supercharge the economy. CBI chief executive [...]
Reeves is right to squeeze private equity – but a sweeping capital gains hike will hurt the City, says Cavendish chair September 5, 2024 The government is right to launch a raid on the profits made by private equity bosses but a sweeping hike in capital gains and inheritance tax could suck investment out of the City, the chair of investment bank Cavendish has warned. Lisa Gordon, who chairs the London-listed broking group, urged Rachel Reeves to be “more [...]
Is there a Tufton Street of the left? September 5, 2024 With think tankers and campaigners being appointed to government, it’s tempting to think these secretive groups are calling the tune, but there are better ways to work out what Labour really thinks, says James Nation Over the last 14 years, there was a theory among some commentators that went something like this: yes, Conservative Prime [...]
Are the super-rich running out of road? September 4, 2024 As more western governments look at ways to increase taxes for the ultra-rich, Ali Lyon asks whether it will work
‘New footing’: Eurogroup president pledges closer ties with City of London as Brexit tensions ease September 4, 2024 The president of the EU’s council of financial ministers pledged closer ties with the City of London yesterday as he hailed a “new footing” in the relationship between Keir Starmer’s government and the bloc.
Spending without productivity improvements won’t lead to better public services September 4, 2024 Restoring the differentials in public and private sector pay to those which prevailed in 2010 without quid pro quo increases in productivity is simply stirring up trouble for the future, says Paul Ormerod The decision by the government to stuff money into the bank accounts of the train drivers and junior doctors has been widely [...]