Flybe infected by aviation sector’s malaise March 6, 2020 As ministerial tweets go, the mid-January proclamation by the business and transport secretaries that Flybe’s future had been salvaged will surely endure as among the most ill-judged of Boris Johnson’s government. Barely 54 days later, Flybe has become just another corporate carcass, joining Monarch and Thomas Cook among the airlines which failed to cope with [...]
Long awaited audit reforms could start this year, says audit watchdog boss March 5, 2020 The long-promised reform of the UK audit sector could start this year with voluntary changes by the Big Four accounting firms, the audit watchdog said today. The collapse of outsourcer Carillion in 2018 prompted three reviews of the sector and two years on there have been calls from MPs and industry figures to speed up [...]
ECB ‘working on lending scheme’ for small businesses hit by coronavirus March 3, 2020 The European Central Bank is reportedly working on measures to provide liquidity to businesses hit by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Measures being considered by the ECB include a targeted longer-term refinancing operation directed at small and medium-sized firms, which could be hardest hit by a virus-related downturn, sources familiar with the discussion [...]
FRC tells Big Four auditors to accelerate break-up plan February 27, 2020 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has told the Big Four to accelerate the ring-fencing of their audit businesses by strengthening independent governance and improving financial transparency. The regulator wrote to Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC this week to set out details of the ‘operational separation’ blueprint, according to Sky News. The FRC is reported to [...]
Audit watchdog to test how companies and auditors report climate change risk February 20, 2020 Audit watchdog the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) today announced a major review of how companies and auditors report on the impact of climate change. The FRC said it will review the extent to which UK companies and auditors are responding to the the impact of climate change on their businesses to ensure reporting requirements are [...]
Downing Street poised to axe business councils February 20, 2020 Downing Street is planning a major shake-up of the way it deals with the business community, with officials planning to scrap the system created by Theresa May. Number 10 officials are poised to axe the five business councils set up by the former Prime Minister around business lines, including one for financial and professional services. [...]
Boris Johnson and Sajid Javid weighing up a mansion tax February 9, 2020 Number 10 is considering plans to implement a mansion tax in next month’s budget to help pay for spending increases. Plans to hit wealthy homeowners with the tax have been discussed at the Treasury and Number 10 multiple times, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Read more: Sajid Javid weighing up tax raid on high earners [...]
UK appoints first female US ambassador February 7, 2020 The government has appointed a new US ambassador after the last person to hold the post quit in the wake of leaked messages about President Donald Trump. Dame Karen Pierce will become the new UK ambassador to the US at a crucial time – with Trump reported to have been “livid” about Prime Minister Boris [...]
Financial Reporting Council unveils plans to beef up enforcement in audit cases February 5, 2020 Audit watchdog the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) today announced plans to create a “more forceful regulator”. The FRC has been heavily criticised for the slow pace of its investigations into matters such as the audit of Hbos shortly before its collapse. It has also been criticised for its perceived toothlessness and its cosy relationship with [...]
Retail bosses call for £6bn corporation tax hike to fund business rates cut February 5, 2020 Retail bosses are preparing to urge the Treasury to increase corporation tax in order to cut business rates by £6bn in a bid to save the UK’s struggling high streets. The recommendation to the government will be made in a report by a sub-committee of the Retail Sector Council, due to be shared in the [...]