Autumn Statement 2014: Rich pickings for George Osborne – banks, mansions, multinationals, tobacco December 3, 2014 George Osborne delivered sweeping reforms to property tax yesterday, in an Autumn Statement that aimed to raise extra billions from banks, tobacco companies, international corporations and buyers of expensive properties. Attempting to knock the wind out of Ed Miliband’s Labour party, the chancellor sought to neutralise several of the opposition’s key policies, taking on the [...]
Sweden all set for snap election after Budget row December 3, 2014 Sweden fell into full political collapse last night after a snap election was called by its centre-left government amid a struggle to win backing for its Budget after just two months in office. The minority government, led by Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, failed to find support for its measures earlier this week after the Sweden [...]
Gatwick chair Sir Roy McNulty in complaint about Heathrow-funded campaign group December 3, 2014 Gatwick airport chairman Sir Roy McNulty has written to the Airports Commission to complain about a campaign group funded by Heathrow, which he claims is made to look like a grassroots operation. The Back Heathrow group has come in for heavy criticism after it emerged that a series of glossy leaflets, delivered to homes in [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: George Osborne tells Labour – anything you can do, I can do better December 3, 2014 Picture the scene. A room full of Treasury policy experts, a month or so before the Autumn Statement. The mood is tense, everyone knows the numbers aren’t as good as the chancellor hoped and the election looms menacingly on the political horizon. Pacing up and down, a pensive look on his newly-slim face, George Osborne addresses [...]
We don’t agree with the Tories on everything, Cable warns December 3, 2014 LIBERAL Democrat business secretary Vince Cable warned yesterday that his party does not agree with its coalition partner on how to cut the deficit in the next parliament. In the wake of the Autumn Statement, which saw chancellor George Osborne announce a sweeping overhaul of stamp duty tax, Cable called on the Office for Budget Responsibility [...]
North can keep shale tax receipts December 3, 2014 COMMUNITIES in the north of England will hold on to tax receipts generated by shale gas exploration in their region, the chancellor announced yesterday. George Osborne announced a long-term investment fund for regions affected by shale work as part of his plans for a northern powerhouse, to ensure “the shale gas resources of the north [...]
Autumn Statement 2014: Northern Ireland to control own corporation tax if talks go well December 3, 2014 Northern Ireland will be permitted to set its own corporation tax rate as long as the nation proves it can manage the financial implications of the change, the chancellor announced yesterday. Following weeks of intense talks, George Osborne signalled that if talks go well, Northern Ireland will be free to cut its corporation tax level [...]
More bad news for Tesco bosses as Harris + Hoole makes big loss December 2, 2014 COFFEE chain Harris + Hoole, which is part-owned by troubled supermarket giant Tesco, announced a £12.8m pre-tax loss yesterday on filing its annual accounts. The company, which was forced to close six branches earlier this year following disappointing trading figures, said the results represent a period of investment for the fledgling coffee business, and reported [...]
London housing estates to get overhaul in £150m pledge with Aylesbury and Blackwall Reach expected to be named December 1, 2014 A shortlist of London housing estates in the running for regeneration is to be announced by ministers today, as part of a £150m scheme. The estates will be named ahead of the Autumn Statement as part of a pledge first announced in the Budget earlier this year. The Aylesbury estate in Southwark is expected to [...]
George Osborne puts his money on roadbuilding and reveals Stonehenge tunnel plans November 30, 2014 Chancellor George Osborne will today unveil plans to build a tunnel under historic landmark Stonehenge, as he sets out how £15bn will be spent to overhaul British roads. The announcement marks the end of a long-running battle for a tunnel at the site, after plans were dropped seven years ago because of cost. Deputy prime [...]
