Tory manifesto pledge to build 300,000 new homes a year ‘almost impossible’, say analysts October 10, 2021 Boris Johnson’s pledge at the last election to build 300,000 new home a year by the middle of this decade is now “almost impossible” due to labour and material shortages, according to industry groups. The Conservative party’s election winning 2019 manifesto included a promise to build “300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s” and that [...]
Raise interest rates now to stem inflation, warns John Major’s chancellor Lord Lamont October 9, 2021 A former Tory chancellor has called for an increase in interest rates as he wanred about the risks surrounding inflation. The Government’s policy of calling for wages to go up could further drive inflation if the boost is not accompanied by increased productivity, Lord Lamont said today. Amid soaring energy prices and shortages of workers [...]
After Brexit comes Pexit? Poland ‘takes back control’ by placing national law first October 9, 2021 Fears of a Polexit have been stoked by a court ruling that decisions by the EU’s highest court are incompatible with the nation’s constitution. In a serious legal challenge to the EU’s authority the Polish court ruled that in certain cases the Court of Justice of the European Union “violates the principle of rule of [...]
Post-Brexit push: FCA to market London’s financial services sector abroad October 9, 2021 The Treasury plans to transform the role of financial regulators to make sure they promote the City’s global competitiveness. Last year the Treasury launched a consultation into how the role of financial regulators would need to adapt once the UK left the EU. With the Treasury now planning to respond to the report in autumn [...]
Delphlyx: The start-up offering football bosses data analytics for dummies October 8, 2021 From Harvard graduates building bespoke programmes for Liverpool to the video analysis tools now available even to Sunday league coaches, 21st century football is awash with data. But what might have been overlooked is that some are drowning in it; while today’s club analysts and scouts may be data-literate, their older superiors frequently are not. [...]
Starting salaries see biggest jump on record amid staff shortages October 8, 2021 UK employers are being hit hard by labour shortages giving new starters the upper hand when it comes to negotiating pay. A September survey by the Recruitment and Employment Commission (REC) found that nine in ten employers, some 88 per cent, said their biggest concern for the rest of the year was labour shortages. Amid [...]
Pandemic recovery: London minister expects the capital to ‘be the last to bounce back’ – CityAM : CityAM October 8, 2021 London’s post-pandemic recovery is expected to take longer than the rest of the country, due to the sheer scale of the capital. Minister for London, Paul Scully has cautioned that while the city – a business and financial hub – would usually be one of the first areas to bounce back following a recession, this [...]
Sturgeon’s dismal domestic record has derailed the SNP’s train of separatism October 8, 2021 Nicola Sturgeon believes in destiny. In an interview with the Financial Times published yesterday, the First Minister claimed that another referendum on Scottish independence is inevitable because of the demographics of independence. “I’ve got democracy on my side”, she argued, “if they think it’s about playing a waiting game, I’ve probably got time on my [...]
Drink up, America. Whisky tariffs should be ditched for good in a cross-Atlantic pact October 8, 2021 Scotch whisky distillers were the belle of the ball earlier this year, when the UK and US announced they would suspend tariffs on distilled spirits imported to each respective country by the other. Then Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the announcement was “fantastic news for major employers like Scotch whisky.” The suspension is temporary. And [...]
Visas for shortage woes are a sticking plaster sowing division between industries October 8, 2021 As thousands of temporary visas to plug shortages across the UK are released in the run up to and beyond Christmas, the uncertainty from affected industries has not abated: Are there enough visas? Do they help sectors in need? And will they address region-specific challenges? In the backdrop, there are yet more shortages. The latest [...]