HMRC in £1.6bn cigarette and alcohol duty crackdown March 21, 2016 HMRC raked in £1.63bn over the past 12 months from investigations into underpaid cigarette and alcohol taxes, new data shows today. Revenues from investigations into so-called sin taxes are up six per cent on the year ending March 2015, according to figures retrieved by accountants UHY Hacker Young. The UK’s black market in cigarettes and alcohol [...]
The so-called flat white economy has overtaken finance and retail March 21, 2016 The UK's digital economy, which has made a home for itself in East London is driving the country’s economic growth, according to new research published today by a think tank. The so-called flat white economy of media, internet and creative businesses is now the second largest business sector in the UK. It accounts for 8.7 per [...]
Chinese investment in football continues as Freestyle Football receives £180,000 March 18, 2016 China's growing interest in football has extended beyond even traditional forms of the beautiful game. Freestyle Football Limited, the commercial arm of freestyle football's governing body, has received a £180,000 investment from the Shanghai XiaoYuan Culture Communication Corporation for a 10 per cent stake. The firm owns schools in China, Australia and Cambodia and has an agreement [...]
Regardless of changes to pensions and retirement ages, no country can duck its demographic destiny March 18, 2016 Facing up to demographic reality is never likely to be a vote winner, but over the course of the next four decades the UK will gradually increase the state pension age to 68 for both men and women. Governments all over the world are waking up to the necessity of such a move, driven as [...]
Jane Horrocks’ love letter to post punk and new wave is a brilliant vanity project March 17, 2016 Young Vic | ★★★★☆ Jane Horrocks’ If You Kiss Me, Kiss Me is the kind of midlife crisis I hope I have one day. The star of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Absolutely Fabulous has been recording music with producer Kipper, because why the hell not? And why not perform it at [...]
Motown the Musical’s songs deliver, but the lack of story lets it down March 17, 2016 Shaftesbury Theatre | ★★☆☆☆ If you don’t like at least one song released on the Motown label between 1960 and 1975, you’re utterly joyless and there’s something wrong with you. Berry Gordy’s hugely successful label discovered a young Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson among literally hundreds of others. Many of their hits [...]
Six Nations 2016 betting: Scoring in England Grand Slam win will be elementary for Anthony Watson March 17, 2016 Not many punters would have confidently backed England’s World Cup flops for a 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam at 6/1 after their dismal display in the tournament. Now they head to Paris for Saturday's final match no bigger than 2/7 to complete their first clean sweep since 2003. An away trip to France is never [...]
Top tips for choosing the right tenant for your buy-to-let investment March 17, 2016 So you’ve spent months searching for the perfect property investment and transforming it into a modern, comfortable home. Now it’s time to hand over the keys to a perfect stranger and hope they pay up. Or perhaps you’re upsizing and you’re hoping Mr Rando won’t destroy your beloved first home. But how can you be [...]
Focus On Canning Town: For affordability and an easy commute to Canary Wharf, the only way is E16 March 17, 2016 East London’s post-industrial landscape is rapidly disappearing in favour of quirky cultural venues, artfully rustic cafes and glassy residential towers. While the investment potential in Hackney and Tower Hamlets has been well-documented, other locations that are just as accessible have managed to slip under the radar. One of these is Canning Town, a part of [...]
Admiral’s chief Henry Engelhardt might be setting sail and retiring in May, but at least Captain Birdseye is coming back March 17, 2016 Golden-hearted Admiral Group boss Henry Engelhardt is about to hoist the anchor and retire from his chief exec role at the insurer – and right on cue, one sea-faring brand spokesperson is about to make a comeback. After news leaked that the nation’s favourite fish finger-themed seafarer will be making a return to TV screens this year, Cap'n Birdseye [...]