EU referendum: Morgan Stanley says June referendum will speed up uncertainty and slowdown in UK growth January 26, 2016 Morgan Stanley is now predicting the in/out vote on Britain's European Union membership will be held within a matter of months – something the bank's economists say would accelerate market uncertainty and spark a slowdown in growth. In a note out this morning, Morgan Stanley economists said they now expect Prime Minister David Cameron will secure a reform deal [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Labour candidate Sadiq Khan rejects suggestions from shadow chancellor John McDonnell to scrap City of London Corporation January 26, 2016 Labour candidate for mayor of London Sadiq Khan has sharply rejected calls from shadow chancellor John McDonnell and top Labour advisers to get rid of the City of London Corporation. “The City of London Corporation is the City’s bedrock, playing an historic and vital role representing business,” a spokesperson for Khan told City A.M. “Any suggestion [...]
Downing Street rows back on support for £130m Google corporation tax deal January 25, 2016 Downing Street has distanced itself from Treasury ministers' reactions to the news that Google had agreed to had over £130m to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in unpaid corporation tax. The Prime Minister's official spokeswoman said the deal was a "step forward" but declined to endorse chancellor George Osborne's comments over the weekend that the tax [...]
EU referendum: New YouGov poll finds big companies and startups want to stay in the EU while small businesses more divided January 25, 2016 The majority of bosses at Britain's biggest businesses want the UK to remain in the EU, even if their companies have not publicly stated a view on the issue, according to new research out today from YouGov. YouGov polled leading figures from 11 FTSE 100 organisations, three FTSE 250 firms, and two larger private companies. The executives surveyed included senior management [...]
Rip out four in five traffic lights to boost British economy, says Institute of Economic Affairs January 25, 2016 The government should scrap four in five traffic lights to boost the economy and improve road safety, an influential think tank has argued. In a new paper out today, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) claims a “huge proliferation in traffic regulations over the past 20 years has imposed a heavy burden” on the UK economy, [...]
Shareholders demand information about diversity in global firms’ annual reports January 25, 2016 Two-thirds of the world’s biggest banks now include diversity reporting in their annual reports, according to new research out today from DHR International, a global executive search firm. According to DHR, shareholders are increasingly keen to receive information on diversity at the banks they are investing in. “Addressing diversity is no longer optional for world-leading businesses,” [...]
Tax experts pour cold water on heated debate over Google’s £130m corporation tax agreement January 25, 2016 Tax experts have poured cold water on a heated debate over Google’s agreement to hand over £130m to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in unpaid corporation tax, dismissing suggestions that the deal was unfair. Tighter rules surrounding corporation tax will result in a string of companies striking deals with HMRC, accountants say. “There will be lots of businesses that [...]
EU referendum: Virgin Money chief executive Jayne-Anne Gadhia says Brexit would lead to fewer jobs and less prosperity January 24, 2016 Virgin Money chief executive Jayne-Anne Gadhia became the latest big business boss to wade in the European Union debate over the weekend when she came out in favour of the UK remaining in the EU. Gadhia said that while she "could see benefits of not being subject to all the bureaucracy of Europe", remaining in the EU would [...]
British banks face landmark legal challenge over mis-selling of interest rate swaps January 24, 2016 Britain's biggest banks are set to face yet another legal challenge tomorrow, when a hearing relating to the mis-selling of rate swap products begins in the Royal Courts of Justice. The hearing, which is expected to last no more than three days, could have far-reaching implications for a multi-billion pound scheme to compensate victims of [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Eurosceptic Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith refuses to align with campaigns to leave the European Union January 24, 2016 Despite saying he has "always" been a eurosceptic, Conservative candidate for mayor of London Zac Goldsmith would not commit this morning to campaigning for Britain to leave the European Union. Appearing on the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, Goldsmith said he believes "that the European institutions are profoundly undemocratic, unaccountable and far too centralised". But the Tory [...]
