Starmer refuses to rule out further tax rises or more borrowing November 27, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out further tax rises or additional borrowing when challenged to repeat his Chancellor’s pledge not to “come back with more”. During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch asked Starmer about Rachel Reeves’ words. She said: “At the Confederation [...]
Car insurance premiums fall but young drivers still in back seat November 26, 2024 The latest Consumer Intelligence index shows quoted premiums in the year to October fell 1.1 per cent, the first time since January 2022.
Budget uncertainty has gone but odds have been stacked against business November 22, 2024 If Rachel Reeves thought certainty would cure the UK economy’s growth problem, she was wrong. She’s just pitted consumers against retailers. This data-heavy week has reflected that uncertainty over the Budget has not been cured by policy which heaps pressure on business. We’ve had inflation rising, debt compounded, inheritance tax receipts soaring, farmers protesting, the [...]
HMV suspends plans for new shops as Budget hikes costs November 21, 2024 HMV has suspended plans to open more new stores next year, blaming the decision on the government’s tax-raising Budget. The company planned to open multiple shops in the UK in 2025, but HMV’s owner Doug Putman told The Telegraph yesterday that this proposal was now on hold following the Budget. Confirming the decision, Putman told [...]
Rachel Reeves needs to channel Alexander the Great, says City group November 21, 2024 The Association of British Insurers called on Rachel Reeves to break the “regulatory Gordian knot” last night – Hannah Gurga told City AM why the group is calling for faster reform. According to ancient Greek legend, he who untied the Gordian knot was destined to rule over the whole of Asia. Unravelling the stubborn splice [...]
Lidl boss warns retailers are ‘reeling’ after Budget tax raid November 20, 2024 The boss of budget supermarket Lidl has warned retailers are “reeling” following Labour’s tax raid in the Autumn Budget. The German supermarket’s UK boss Ryan McDonnell said the discount brand was staring down the barrel of “tens of millions of pounds” in extra costs. This comes after the Chancellor unveiled a £25.7bn tax-raising package, with [...]
Retailers ‘right’ to warn of Budget job cuts, says Bank of England governor November 19, 2024 The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has said a group of retailers were “right” to warn of sweeping job cuts as a result of Labour’s punishing £40bn tax raid at the Budget. A group of Britain’s biggest supermarkets and retail chains, including Tesco, M&S, Boots and B&Q, wrote to the Chancellor Rachel [...]
David Howden: I will live and breathe the British and Irish Lions tour November 9, 2024 Howden Group CEO David Howden has insisted he will live and breathe the British and Irish Lions next year in what will be the insurance firm’s first tour as front-of-shirt partner. Excitement has been steadily increasing ahead of the tour to Australia, where the team made up of rugby players from England, Scotland, Wales and [...]
Businesses warn of £400m in extra costs after Reeves’s Budget tax raid November 8, 2024 Businesses across the UK are sounding the alarm over rising costs after Rachel Reeves raised taxes by some £40bn at the Budget last week. The Chancellor announced that employer’s national insurance contributions (NIC) will increase by 1.2 per cent to 15 per cent, and the threshold at which businesses start paying the levy will be [...]
Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin fires fresh price rise warning following Budget November 6, 2024 The pub giant reported record sales in the most recent quarterm even as cost inflation and tax hikes continue to bite British boozers.