Rishi Sunak should axe 20 UK taxes in Budget, says think tank March 1, 2021 The UK should axe inheritance tax, stamp duty, the TV licence fee and 18 other taxes to simplify the UK’s taxation regime post-Covid, according to a free market think tank. The Institute for Economic Affairs’ (IEA) pre-Budget release has called for Rishi Sunak to “simplify the tax system, reduce the overall burden of taxation, and [...]
Budget 2021: Rishi Sunak hints at tax rises next week February 28, 2021 Rishi Sunak has hinted that he will raise taxes in the Budget on Wednesday, saying that he wanted to “level” with people about the fiscal challenges to come. He also suggested that he would extend Covid support schemes in his Budget, as expected, saying “we went big, we went early and there’s more to come”. [...]
Construction firm Kier set for £150m equity raise and division sale – report February 26, 2021 Construction firm Kier is reportedly finalising plans for an £150m equity raise and the sale of one of its divisions in a bid to fix its balance sheet. Sky News reported that the FTSE 250 firm was planning to announce the raise alongside its half year results in April. It is also putting the finishing [...]
Screenshot: Is Uber nearing the end of the road? February 26, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Boris’ career coaching **Is Uber nearing the end of the road? **Apple’s merger madness Media Moment of the Week: Boris’ career coaching Social media is a fickle beast, but if there’s one sure-fire way to generate outrage it’s to insult journalists. That’s what Boris Johnson did this week, [...]
Bellator: MMA promotion’s head of Europe David Green on its new deal with the BBC, wooing the UK and Ireland and why it has a strong female following February 26, 2021 Question Time. Antiques Roadshow. Songs of Praise. To that list you can now add cage-fighting organisation Bellator. This month the BBC became the home of the American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in the UK, meaning it now sits alongside some of the most traditional shows in British broadcasting. While it might rile the “Disgusted [...]
London Tories slam Sadiq Khan’s council tax rise in rival budget February 25, 2021 City Hall Tories are calling on Sadiq Khan to scrap an almost 10 per cent rise in his share of council tax bills. In January the Mayor of London announced plans to hike taxes to create an estimated £40m for concessionary travel programmes. “Council tax is a regressive tax but the Government have left us [...]
The United States Vs Billie Holiday biopic film review February 25, 2021 ‘Based On A True Story’ is a common phrase that pop ups around Oscar season, with several of this year’s contenders being adaptations of real life events. Lee Daniels, who shot to fame with 2009’s indie hit Precious, hopes to repeat that success with a biopic of the one and only Billie Holiday. The United [...]
O2’s £31bn Virgin Media merger ‘will help UK pandemic recovery’, says CEO February 25, 2021 O2’s proposed £31bn tie-up with Virgin Media will accelerate investment in telecoms infrastructure and bolster the UK’s post-pandemic recovery, the mobile network’s boss has said. The mega-merger, agreed last year by O2 owner Telefonica and Virgin Media parent Liberty Global, is facing an in-depth probe by regulators amid concerns it could harm competition. But O2 [...]
KPMG enters exclusive talks with private equity firm HIG on sale of restructuring arm February 24, 2021 Big Four firm KPMG has entered into exclusive talks with private equity firm HIG Europe about the sale of its UK restructuring business The deal, first reported by Sky News, could be worth some £400m. KPMG declined to comment on the rumours, and HIG could not be reached for comment. Sky also reported HIG has [...]
Reading and Leeds festivals to go ahead this summer in boost for return to normality February 24, 2021 Reading and Leeds music festivals will go ahead this summer, organisers have confirmed, in a major boost for hopes of a return to normality in the second half of the year. Stormzy, Post Malone and Liam Gallagher have been confirmed as the headline acts of the twin events, which will run on the August Bank [...]