As long as businesses want to keep their hands clean, we will need a body like the CBI April 19, 2023 As long as businesses want to outsource their dirty work to industry groups, they will need a body like the Confederation of British Industry.
UK workers still gripped by inflation despite better than expected near six per cent pay growth April 18, 2023 UK workers are still being squeezed by a historic inflation crunch despite wage increases smashing expectations, official figures out today reveal. The average pay increase including bonuses hit 5.9 per cent over the three months to February, up from the previous period and above the City’s expectations of a 5.1 per cent increase, according to [...]
Inflation sliding and tough Bank of England means the pound will see better days April 18, 2023 “Hope is not a strategy,” Jordan Rochester, a wonk at Japanese investment bank Nomura, said last September, referring to politicians’ attempts to revive the pound after it plummeted to its lowest level ever against the US dollar following Liz Truss’s tax cutting mini budget. A lot has changed since then. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt raised taxes [...]
Business groups ‘welcome’ maths focus to plug ‘skills gap’ April 17, 2023 Business groups say Rishi Sunak’s focus on maths is a “welcome” measure to plug key “skills gaps” as Britain goes for growth, despite concerns over a lack of teachers. The Prime Minister has unveiled plans to transform the UK’s approach to maths education, including an expert advisory group, maths hubs and a new primary teaching [...]
Rishi Sunak: PM under investigation for possible failure to ‘declare interest’ April 17, 2023 Prime minister Rishi Sunak is under investigation by the Parliamentary standards watchdog over the possible failure to declare an interest. The House of Commons Standards Commissioner looks at evidence to determine whether individual MPs may have broken the rules of conduct. An investigation was opened into Sunak, who is also MP for Richmond in Yorkshire, [...]
‘A breath of fresh air’ vs ‘more to do’: What City grandees have to say about Sunak April 17, 2023 As Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t tire of reminding voters: expertise beyond politics can be invaluable. For the current resident behind that most famous front door, it’s so far proved an advantage. Liz Truss’ accountancy background may not have aided her short-lived leadership bout, but – for the City’s boardrooms at least – her [...]
Labour attack ad backfires to dent own reputation, polling finds April 17, 2023 Labour’s controversial attack ad, which claimed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was failing to ensure child sexual abusers serve prison time, has damaged the party in the polls, it has emerged. The divisive online ad campaign also saw the party hit out at the Conservative’s record on the justice system and at Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty’s [...]
Former COP26 president Alok Sharma denies bullying allegations April 16, 2023 Conservative MP and former COP26 president Sir Alok Sharma has been accused of “bullying” civil servants, according to a report. Sharma is said to have been “difficult, unpredictable and could quickly lose his temper”, according to allegations reported by Bloomberg. Four senior officials who worked with Sharma between 2020 and 2022 claimed the minister would [...]
Rishi Sunak bans new smart motorways amid safety concerns April 16, 2023 The building of new smart motorways is being cancelled as prime minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged concerns about safety and cost. Fourteen planned smart motorways – including 11 that are already paused and three earmarked for construction – will be removed from government road building plans, given financial pressures and in recognition of the lack of [...]
Sunak and Zelensky discuss ramping up military support to Ukraine after ‘recent battlefield successes’ April 14, 2023 Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelensky discussed ramping up military support to Ukraine in a phone call on Friday, Downing Street said. The Prime Minister told the Ukrainian president that Britain and its allies “needed to continue to ensure Ukraine was in the strongest possible position to build on its recent battlefield successes”. The two leaders [...]