More than half UK SMEs delay adopting IR35 tax reforms September 6, 2021 More than half of the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have not put in formal processes to adhere to changes to the IR35 rules, according to a new survey. A survey from advisory firm BDO found 55 per cent of SMEs using contract workers say they will worry about IR35 reforms when businesses return [...]
Boris Johnson to vow to ‘use every lever’ to keep UK safe from future terrorist attacks September 5, 2021 Boris Johnson will tomorrow vow to use “use every economic, political and diplomatic lever” to protect the UK from future terrorist attacks, after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban last month. The Prime Minister will use the statement in the House of Commons tomorrow to also announce a further £5m funding for military charities that offer [...]
Melrose chief: UK has to remain open to US takeovers September 5, 2021 The government must resist intervening in the growing number of US takeover attempts of UK companies, according to the chief executive of FTSE 100 manufacturing firm Melrose Industries. Simon Peckham said that government pushback to the growing number of private equity takeovers could lead to American retaliation in the future. Peckham told the Sunday Times [...]
Serious Fraud Office probing O2 bribery allegations September 5, 2021 Telecoms giant O2 is being investigated Serious Fraud Office reportedly over allegations of bribery involving the company’s executives. The company revealed in a financial statement that it is cooperating with the SFO, following its merger with Virgin Media. O2’s recent £31bn merger with Virgin Media makes the new company the UK’s largest network, ahead of [...]
Number 10 prepares for battle over National Insurance rise to fund social care September 5, 2021 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are set to face internal backlash over the pair’s plan to rise National Insurance to pay for NHS rise and social care reform. The pair are expected to unveil the “NHS and Social Care Levy” next week as parliament resumes, which will see employee and employer National Insurance Contributions increase [...]
Zahawi: Government ‘on track’ to roll out mandatory vaccine passports for night clubs September 5, 2021 The government is “absolutely on track” to roll out mandatory vaccine passports for night clubs and mass events at the end of this month, according to vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi. Zahawi said today that the government wants to “work with the [nightlife] industry to make sure they can open safely…in the long term” and that [...]
School’s back from summer: Four things in Boris Johnson’s in-tray post-recess September 2, 2021 MPs will descend on Westminster next week as parliament returns from after the six-week summer recess. Boris Johnson will be lamenting that the events of the past month in Afghanistan have ensured little time for rest or recuperation and things will be no easier for the Prime Minister as autumn begins. Here are four key [...]
Dominic Raab stresses need for UK ‘direct engagement’ with Taliban September 2, 2021 Dominic Raab has said the UK needs to engage with the Taliban and that the militant group’s “first test” will be if it opens Kabul airport and allows safe passage of people trying to leave the country. The foreign secretary said “we don’t recognise governments, we will not be recognising the Taliban, but we do [...]
Raab refuses 11 times to say when he went on holiday in lead up to Afghanistan crisis September 1, 2021 Dominic Raab has refused 11 times to reveal when he went on holiday in the lead-up to the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in a 90-minute grilling by MPs. The foreign secretary said today that he “wouldn’t have gone away with the benefit of hindsight”, but would not reveal if he left after western intelligence had [...]
Dominic Raab prepares to face grilling from MPs over Afghanistan September 1, 2021 Dominic Raab will today face a grilling from MPs over how he handled the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan and the subsequent evacuation of British nationals and refugees. The foreign secretary will face questions for 90 minutes from the Foreign Affairs Committee over intelligence failures relating to the takeover of Afghanistan, British nationals who have [...]
