Energy giants hold their breath as Boris Johnson refuses to rule out windfall tax and Rishi Sunak starts examining profit levy May 12, 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has refused to rule out a windfall tax on the profits of the energy companies to help relieve the pressure of the cost-of-living squeeze. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has reportedly told Treasury officials to examine plans for a levy on the soaring profits of the oil and gas giants. It follows an [...]
D-Day for Brexit deal as UK and EU hold crunch talks after Boris Johnson calls Northern Ireland discussion ‘crazy’ May 12, 2022 As ministers consider whether to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will hold crunch talks with the vice president of the European Commission in the coming hours. Attorney General Suella Braverman is said to have approved the scrapping of swathes of the agreement, giving Boris Johnson legal cover [...]
UK economic growth slows as GDP records 0.8 per cent between January and March May 12, 2022 The UK economy grew by 0.8 per cent between January and March, down from growth of 1.3 per cent in the previous three months, the Office for National Statistics has said. Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said: “The UK economy grew for the fourth consecutive quarter and [...]
Michael Gove: There won’t be an emergency budget to tackle the cost of living crisis May 11, 2022 Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has insisted there will not be an emergency budget to deal with the cost of living crisis. The minister made his comments on Sky News this morning after the prime minister told the Commons yesterday, that Rishi Sunak would be “saying more” on the UK’s response to rising inflation and [...]
UK has ‘given up’ on Brexit talks and plans to kill off Northern Ireland Protocol next week as trade war with EU looms May 11, 2022 The government will reportedly move to discard large portions of the Northern Ireland Protocol after giving up on Brexit negotiations with the EU. The Times newspaper reported officials working for Foreign Secretary Liz Truss have drawn up draft legislation to unilaterally remove the need for checks on all goods being sent from Britain for use [...]
UK recession lurks around corner as thousands face extreme poverty without more support May 11, 2022 A recession in the UK is just around the corner and the economy will stay in the doldrums without a major policy overhaul, a top think tank warned today. Britain’s economy will contract in the third and fourth quarters of this year, meeting the grade for a technical recession, the National Institute of Economic and [...]
Scrap National Insurance hike to ease cost of living, says Khan May 10, 2022 BORIS Johnson should cut National Insurance contributions in a bid to ease the cost of living, Sadiq Khan has said during a trip to the US. The Queen’s speech, delivered today, did not include further measures to ease the burden of sky-high gas prices and the Prime Minister warned that “we cannot spend our way [...]
Energy Bill: Government commits to renewable ramp up but lacks plan for cost-of-living crisis May 10, 2022 Industry commentators have responded to the inclusion of the Energy Security Bill in the Queen's Speech, and the lack of support for households.
Tesco chief joins calls for energy firms to face windfall tax amid deepening cost-of-living crisis May 10, 2022 Tesco chairman John Allan has joined calls for energy giants to be slapped with a windfall tax to ease pressure on households.
Queen’s Speech: Fresh measures on levelling up, cost of living and financial sector as PM looks to regain initiative May 10, 2022 The government will set out its fresh legislative agenda in the Queen's Speech this morning as it looks to get back on the front foot after a disastrous set of local elections and a spate of bad press over the ‘partygate’ scandal.