The UK is already losing out thanks to an uncompetitive airline duty: Don’t put it up March 18, 2012 ALL eyes are on the chancellor ahead of next week’s Budget. Will he take the opportunity to cut UK taxes to help stimulate economic recovery? There is an opportunity to review not just corporation tax but many of the consumer taxes like air passenger duty (APD). Five years ago the tax that you paid on [...]
Bold businesses must be able to grow in Britain March 18, 2012 FAIRNESS has rightly become central to the Budget debate. Personally I would like to see the income tax threshold raised, to allow lower earners to keep more of their hard-earned cash. But a bigger test of success for this Budget will be what measures the chancellor can introduce to drive economic growth. By the chancellor’s [...]
The City can help us to put a spring in our step March 18, 2012 WITH only a few days to go until the chancellor reveals the Budget for 2012, the nation’s business community will be hoping that this March stays true to the message of spring, bringing reinvigoration and new growth. While the grip of the economic downturn has remained firm, the government has had to focus on slowing [...]
RAPID RESPONSES March 18, 2012 Clean lines [Re: Tax reform is long overdue: The coalition must act to boost long-term growth, yesterday] Do you remember Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan? How about a UK version – 20-20-20? 20 per cent personal tax rate, 20 per cent corporate tax, 20 per cent VAT on everything? Alongside 20-20-20 most tax concessions should [...]
Savour a Sipp, but fit it with your appetite March 18, 2012 THE popularity of self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) has risen impressively in recent years. They look like the perfect way to save for retirement – flexible, good value for money, and easy to access and control — and they fit comfortably with the growing view that we must engage with our pension and take responsibility for [...]
Diversification can limit rewards March 18, 2012 IT’S A truism of investment advice that an investor should be diversified. And for good reason – only a gambler would put all his money in a single equity in the hope of striking it rich. Yet it shouldn’t be forgotten that diversification comes at a cost – one that should be weighed principally against [...]
Boutique partying in Antalya March 18, 2012 PROMISING “legendary” DJs, the SunSplash boutique music festival at the beach resort of Hillside Su in Turkey has earned itself a reputation. Now in its fourth year, each May it attracts a loyal following of British – and Turkish – devotees, wanting a hassle-free, high-quality, small, friendly and laid-back week-long party in a single beach [...]
A city that knows just how to seduce March 18, 2012 ON the five hour flight from London to Tel Aviv, serious-looking men in black clothes made their way to the back of the aeroplane to pray. The man next to us asked our opinions about the conflict as he bought me a coffee. At the airport, extensive and lengthy security checks were imposed. I’m not [...]
Meanwhile, Jerusalem’s King David still reigns March 18, 2012 THEY say you’re either a Tel Aviv or a Jerusalem person. Jerusalem is everything Tel Aviv isn’t: ancient, hilly, and, above all, deeply religious. No doubt about it: Jerusalem is an utterly different proposition to the rest of Israel, but even if you like to lounge about in the sun in your bikini sipping the [...]
Torres relief as star ends goal drought March 18, 2012 CHELSEA (5) vs LEICESTER (2) MISFIRING £50m striker Fernando Torres admitted his relief last night after finally ending his 25-hour wait for a goal as Chelsea continued their resurgence by storming into the FA Cup semi-finals. Having failed to hit the net for almost five months, Torres scored twice inside 18 second-half minutes, with Salomon [...]
