Theresa May’s statism is the wrong way to build a more prosperous post-Brexit Britain October 12, 2016 Labour has lurched to the hard left and Ukip does not currently seem equipped to capture the significant number of voters on lower incomes who are worried about immigration and the impact of globalisation. So it is understandable that the Prime Minister is seeking to seize the coveted centre ground. For that purpose, Mrs May’s [...]
Startups are swelling the ranks of UK businesses September 26, 2016 The number of VAT registered businesses in the UK has hit an all-time high of 2.1m, up four per cent from 2m last year. The rise has been driven by the thriving national startup economy, according to accountancy group UHY Hacker Young. The number of businesses in the UK per capita has meanwhile recovered to [...]
This new proptech startup wants to help generation rent buy their first home September 22, 2016 Zoopla and top investor Robin Klein are backing a new property technology venture designed to help first time buyers hop on to the incredibly difficult first rung of the property ladder. Wannabe homeowners can invest in a property Isa with Bricklane.com which launches today. Cash will go into a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), which will invest in rental [...]
Experts warn the taxman could miss out on £6.6bn of non-dom tax revenues from 2017 September 12, 2016 Experts and politicians have urged the government to reconsider proposals to reform non-dom tax status from next April. Research released today reveals that the average non-dom pays 10 times the average amount of tax paid by Britons. The worry is that a change in legislation will simply drive non-doms to register themselves abroad, reducing overall [...]
Hunting share price jumps five per cent despite loss-making six months September 5, 2016 Shares in energy service provider Hunting rose over five per cent in morning trading despite announcing falling revenues and loss-making operations for the first half of 2016. Markets responded positively to the news of a reduction in Hunting's cost base and an interim financing arrangement that it is hoped will give the group sufficient breathing space in the short-term. The [...]
The chancellor’s fiscal reset is a golden opportunity to slash living costs through tax cuts and planning reform September 5, 2016 Philip Hammond recently said that he may use the Autumn Statement to “reset” fiscal policy. That is a welcome sentiment because it suggests the chancellor sees before him a golden opportunity to transform the tax system. With Parliament returning, we are likely to see the government start to formulate and publicise more detailed economic policy [...]
Pension or property: Which is the better option for your retirement? August 31, 2016 The Bank of England’s chief economist Andy Haldane drew ire from the pensions industry for the second time this year, when he claimed that property was a better investment option for retirement than a pension in an interview with The Sunday Times this weekend. “It ought to be pensions but it’s almost certainly property,” Haldane said. [...]
Brexit Britain could be new sweetheart after EU-US relations soured by Apple tax ruling August 30, 2016 Souring relations between the US and Europe in the wake of the EU competition watchdog ordering Apple to pay a record multi-billion pound tax bill could hand the UK a post-Brexit boost. Britain could be the big winner from the tax feud between Europe and the US after the EU competition commission ruled Apple should [...]
Nestle misses expectations on China, deflation and foreign exchange but expects strong full year August 18, 2016 Nestle marginally missed expectations on a cocktail of deflation in developed markets, foreign exchange and competition in China. The figures Nestle reported sales of SFr43.2bn (£34.43bn) in the six months to June 30, a 3.5 per cent increase. Net profit was SFr4.1bn for the first half, down SFr400m a year earlier. Reported earnings per share came [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has again failed to explain the maths behind his plans for a huge national spending splurge August 17, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has again failed to lay out the maths behind a huge spending splurge that will include a million new homes and £500bn in infrastructure investment. Speaking on the BBC as part of the leadership debate alongside Owen Smith, Corbyn said that a combination of tax increases and growth would support the [...]