Autumn Budget: Philip Hammond glosses over gloomy growth November 23, 2017 There’s a wonderful clip doing the rounds of Australian MP Bob Katter answering a question on the country’s new equal marriage law. He’s all in favour of it – “let a thousand blossoms bloom,” he grins and chuckles, before his facial expression changes into one of fury as he quickly adds “but I ain’t spending [...]
Autumn Budget 2017: From cough sweets to Jeremy Clarkson – six of the chancellor’s best budget jokes November 22, 2017 Today’s Autumn Budget speech was injected with usual levity by Chancellor Philip Hammond. Perhaps in an attempt to shake off the image of a bland Spreadsheet Phil, the 61-year-old chucked a refreshingly high number of japes during his 7,781-word monologue. Here’s a selection of Phil’s jokes that caught our attention. 1 – Boozing and cough [...]
Autumn Budget 2017: Hammond changes corporate capital gains tax rules November 22, 2017 Corporation tax was maintained at 19 per cent in today's budget, however, the chancellor announced chances to the way companies' chargeable gains are calculated. The corporate indexation allowance allows for the effects of inflation when calculating the chargeable gains of companies or organisations. Philip Hammond announced today that the indexation allowance will be frozen from [...]
Autumn Budget 2017 at-a-glance guide: All the announcements by chancellor Philip Hammond you need to know November 22, 2017 Chancellor Philip Hammond has unveiled the Autumn Budget, saying the UK must “seize the opportunities” for Britain and promised to invest “to secure a bright future”. Now we’ve heard plenty about what was expected from today, from a concerted focus on housing, to a regulatory revamp for driverless cars and a slew of tech spending. [...]
Autumn Budget 2017: Chancellor Philip Hammond’s speech in full November 22, 2017 You can read the chancellor's Budget speech in full here: Mr Deputy Speaker I report today on an economy that continues to grow, continues to create more jobs than ever before and continues to confound those who seek to talk it down. An economy set on a path to a new relationship with our European [...]
Opinion: Should Philip Hammond scrap stamp duty or reform it? Either way, these first time buyers think something has to be done November 17, 2017 Scrap stamp duty – revenue should not come at the expense of working people by Jack Brentnall Benjamin Franklin famously said that our only certainties in life are death and taxes. Thankfully, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) does not have to be such a certainty. Considering the context of the current housing crisis, it is [...]
DEBATE: With CO2 at record levels, does the UK need to prioritise clean energy? November 13, 2017 With CO2 at record levels, does the UK need to prioritise clean energy? Greg Jackson, founder of challenger energy firm Octopus Energy, says YES. It’s a stark reality that air pollution kills 40,000 people in this country every year. If the bodies lay where the problem did, your morning commute would be grisly. The scandal [...]
Autumn Budget 2017: Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable reveals great youth giveaway funded by a wealth tax | City A.M. November 8, 2017 The Liberal Democrats are looking into a wealth tax that it would use to fund a grant for all young people to help pay for further education or adult learning. Leader Vince Cable today revealed the party was backing the idea of “a generous and ambitious learning account of, say, £18,000”, available to every young [...]
Control Brexit and nationalism concerns by investing globally November 1, 2017 As UK investors await the final Brexit plans, it may be time to consider the benefits of geographic diversification. What a difference a year makes. Last June, as Brits voted to leave the EU, many viewed it as a time to shed UK assets. Sterling fell to multi-decade lows versus the dollar and other currencies. [...]
Positive surprise as protectionism fears not bearing out November 1, 2017 Despite Trump election and Brexit, free trade appears to be growing stronger Investors who worried that recent protectionist sentiment would slow free trade can breathe easier. Over the last 18+ months, Brexit, Donald Trump’s election, nationalist sentiment in Europe and other developments sparked investor fear of protectionism and trade wars. Yet free trade remains alive [...]