Sunak gives with one hand and takes with another to paint a positive veneer March 28, 2022 LAST week’s spring statement—the chancellor’s mini-budget, and a significant opportunity to lay out priorities and plans—was a big event for Rishi Sunak. While Covid cases persist and people are still dying, there is a broader feeling that the pandemic is now under control, and that the country can now think about moving into a post-virus [...]
Brits’ inflation expectations scale to record high March 28, 2022 Britons’ expectations of where inflation will land in a decade has climbed to the highest level ever, reveals a closely watched survey published today. Households think the rate of price rises will still be more than double the Bank of England’s two per cent target in 10 years’ time, running at 4.4 per cent, according [...]
Opinion-in-brief: A divided cabinet shows there is no quick energy fix March 28, 2022 Boris Johnson’s calls to ramp up wind and nuclear power reflect his desperation to shore up the security of the country’s energy supplies and his enthusiasm for the net zero agenda, but they also defy the deepening splits within his own cabinet. Downing Street and the Treasury are at loggerheads over the Prime Minister’s push [...]
Soaring energy bills to drag on UK economy, new forecasts reveal March 28, 2022 Swelling energy bills are set to drag on the UK economy this year by sending a chill through household spending, reveals new research published today. Household energy bills will almost double in October even after rebates are handed out, according to new forecasts published by the EY Item Club today. The downbeat assessment adds to [...]
Sunak eyes another council tax rebate after poor response to his spring statement March 28, 2022 Rishi Sunak is considering a further council tax rebate for Brits struggling with the cost of living crisis, after his spring economic statement was met by a very poor response on Wednesday. The chancellor is reportedly now looking into offering a further multi-billion pound package to help people with soaring energy bills and other household [...]
All eyes on Fujitsu as Post Office Horizon scandal leaves taxpayer with hefty compensation bill March 27, 2022 Pressure continues to mount on the Japanese IT giant Fujitsu to pay its share of compensation amid the ongoing Post Office public inquiry.
Ready to replace Boris: ‘Anxious’ Rishi Sunak fails three times to rule out Tory leadership run March 25, 2022 Chancellor Rishi Sunak failed three times to rule out that he could launch a leadership bid in the future. Speaking to Beth Rigby Interviews on Sky News, the Chancellor was asked whether he would go for the top job if the opportunity arises. He was read a quote from Boris Johnson, who said in 2013 [...]
Sunak wants to be a low-tax Tory but instead he’s following the US and picking winners March 25, 2022 When Frank Sinatra first uttered the words “the best is yet to come”, the UK’s fiscal strategy probably couldn’t have been further from his mind. But the words ring true after a spring statement that did little to make life any easier for those of us who make a living trying to read the Chancellor’s [...]
The City View: More Spring Statement analysis, and The Macallan’s Master Whisky Maker distills her craft March 24, 2022 Today Andy Silvester chats to Economics and Markets reporter Jack Barnett — they look back on yesterday’s Spring Statement; go through dire IFS figures; and discuss lack of growth in the UK economy. Andy also takes us through the business news: P&O are in even more hot water; and the CEO of convenience store operator [...]
Spring statement: Record fall in living standards under current parliament March 24, 2022 UK living standards will fall quicker over the course of this parliament than any other since records began, reveals fresh analysis released in the wake of chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spring statement. The typical non-retired household is forecasted to be two per cent worse off by the time of the next election in 2024, according to [...]