Here’s how Reeves could use the Budget to incentivise investment October 17, 2024 As well as balancing the books, Rachel Reeves should use the Budget to help businesses recapture their joie de vivre, says Claire Blackburn The new government’s first Autumn Budget on 30 October is arguably the most anticipated fiscal event in recent memory. Balancing the books will be a top priority and the £22bn hole in [...]
How Poland and Vietnam escaped poverty October 17, 2024 In a new book, Rainer Zitelmann examines how Poland and Vietnam escaped the ravages of the Cold War to become some of the world’s fastest growing economies – and argues that poverty isn’t inevitable, it’s a policy choice says Kristian Niemietz Case studies in recent economic history typically deal with unambiguous success stories, or unambiguous [...]
Making work pay is good for growth October 17, 2024 Don’t listen to populist outcry over the Employment Rights Bill, all the evidence shows protecting workers from exploitation is good for the economy, says Sam Fowles Labour workers’ rights reforms have prompted predictable howls of outrage. The Employment Rights Bill, apparently, “injects fear” into business and will “damage British competitiveness”. Ironically, the most hysterical wails [...]
Man Utd deal was win-win for Ratcliffe and Glazers, says Raine Group October 16, 2024 Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.25bn investment in Manchester United was a win for both him and majority shareholders the Glazers, insists the bank which brokered the deal. Ineos tycoon Ratcliffe shelled out for a 27.7 per cent stake in the Premier League football club in December and, in return, took over much of the decision-making from [...]
Twiggy at London Film Festival review: Sadie Frost captures why she was so groundbreaking October 16, 2024 Twiggy by Sadie Frost, London Film Festival review and star rating: ★★★★☆ Posh ’90s party girl Sadie Frost has reimagined herself as a documentary maker. In 2022 she directed Quant, about iconic ’60s designer Mary Quant, and her 2024 gambit is about model turned singer, actor and M&S saviour Twiggy. Frost seems to have a [...]
Tiered tax regime could stop non-dom exodus, lobby group argues October 16, 2024 A controversial ‘Tiered Tax Regime’ (TTR) charging wealthy foreign nationals a flat rate of tax based on their net wealth would make the UK a more attractive proposition to high net worth individuals and help stem the departure of non-doms, a fresh study has argued. Under the proposal, which the authors claim has the overwhelming [...]
Bank of England more likely to back faster rate cuts after inflation surprise October 16, 2024 New figures showed that inflation came in below the two per cent target for the first time since April 2021.
Legal & General-backed London data centre finally gets planning approval October 16, 2024 Local government ministers have unanimously approved planning proposals for what is set to be one of London’s largest data centres. The £750m development in the Newham borough of London is joint-funded by asset management firm Legal and General (L&G) and digital infrastructure investor Goldacre. It will be able to deliver from 77 up to 90 megawatts of [...]
FCA to review UK premium finance market amid price hike concerns October 16, 2024 The UK's financial regulator is to review Britain's premium finance market amid worries that consumers who borrow to pay for insurance may not be getting fair or competitive deals.
Procook: Kitchenware brand serves up ‘pleasing’ results October 16, 2024 Kitchenware brand Procook offered a “pleasing” set of quarterly results, analysts said, as the group delivered a fifth consecutive quarter of retail growth. Procook’s revenue jumped to £17m in the quarter, an 8.8 per cent increase from the previous year, thanks largely to a 12 per cent increase in Ecommerce sales. However, the larger retail [...]