Why the devil is always in the detail March 24, 2010 YOU must hand it to Alistair Darling: to have to unveil a budget deficit of 11.8 per cent of GDP, roughly the same as Greece’s, would have destroyed a lesser politician. The fact that he was able to portray such an abysmal outcome as a triumph is the final proof that contemporary Britain is now [...]
What did you think of the Budget? March 24, 2010 DARLING has delivered his Budget, but what do you think? Apply to join our panel at www.cityam.com/panel by 12pm to answer these questions. Existing members will receive an email this morning. 1) Alistair Darling yesterday unveiled his final Budget before the general election. Overall, to what extent do you approve or disapprove of the Budget? 2) [...]
Darling and Cameron slug it out March 24, 2010 LISTENING to Alistair Darling speak for almost an hour was never going to be an exciting experience, but yesterday he was political diazepam. At one point I expected the whips to come round handing out Pro Plus. John Denham, the local governments minister, in particular appeared to be battling with unconsciousness. The only person who [...]
How Stamp duty will change March 24, 2010 On market with Foxtons for £249,999 Stamp Duty payable before budget: £2,499 Stamp Duty payable by first-time buyers now : Zero On market with Foxtons for £1,050,000 Stamp Duty payable now: £42,000 Stamp Duty payable as from April 2011: £55,125
Property gets a boost from duty changes March 24, 2010 THE government yesterday handed first-time home buyers a boost by scrapping stamp duty for houses costing less than £250,000 for two years in a measure that will be paid for by those at the higher end of the property ladder. Chancellor Alistair Darling has increased stamp duty on houses worth £1m or more from four [...]
City workers slam class war Budget March 24, 2010 THE City was left unconvinced by yesterday’s Budget, slamming Darling for failing to provide a clear outline on how the government was planning to reduce its huge deficit. Banks were being sent a contradictory message, critics said, pointing out that Darling has asked nationalised banks such as Lloyds and the Royal Bank of Scotland to [...]
Time Line | the shifting landscape of uk taxes March 24, 2010 9 November 2009 50 per cent bank bonus tax on anything over £25,000 introduced as government reacts to anger at financial institutions. 1 January 2010 Rate of VAT goes back up from 15 to 17.5 per cent as planned when the change was brought in at the height of the recession. 1 January 2010 Stamp [...]
CITY VIEWS: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS YEAR’S BUDGET? March 24, 2010 CRAIG BENNETT | PGI GROUP “The stamp duty is definitely a good idea for new starters. The 3p fuel rise on the cost of our already increasing bills isn’t very good. Why should we be taxed more if we earn more? I don’t think that is correct at all.” DAVID THORNBERRY | CHRISTCHURCH INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT [...]
WHAT DOES THE CHANCELLOR’S BUDGET MEAN FOR YOU? March 24, 2010 KATE SOLWAY, 30 FUNDS CONTROLLER AT PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM COGNETAS Kate is single and lives in rented accommodation with flatmates. She also owns two investment properties – one a London flat with a mortgage which she rents out, and the other a holiday home under construction in Cape Verde, which she owns outright and will [...]
Chancellor slashes stamp duty for first-time buyers March 24, 2010 ALISTAIR Darling has said stamp duty will be scrapped on house purchases up to £250,000 for first-time buyers – to be funded by a five per cent levy on those buying homes over £1m. The chancellor unveiled the measures in his budget in which he said the economy was at a “crossroads”. Meanwhile he said [...]