Editorial: Crisis? What crisis? Sunak and his party would be wise to avoid complacency October 5, 2021 The year is 1979, and rubbish bags are piling up in Leicester Square. Lorry drivers are striking leading to queues at fuel pumps, and Brits are panic-buying bread. Prime Minister Jim Callaghan returns to Britain from a conference in Guadeloupe and declares airily that “I don’t think other people in the world would share the [...]
Conservative conference: Rishi Sunak declares the ‘future is here’ October 4, 2021 Rishi Sunak has declared the “future is here” in his party conference speech as he vowed to bring the UK’s economy into the 21st century. The chancellor said “I want tax cuts”, but that first “public finances must be put back on a sustainable footing”. It comes after the government recently increased National Insurance Contributions [...]
Keir Starmer’s bid for Red Wall voters will leave the young out in the cold October 4, 2021 No one wants to hear a longer speech from Keir Starmer after his first performance in front of live crowds at Labour conference last week. The ninety minute monologue on his vision for the party’s future was, in short, a lot. But even in the midst of winding journeys through his personal history, segues on [...]
Interview: IoD’s new chief economist delivers damning verdict on Tory tax hikes October 4, 2021 After just a month or so into the job, the freshly appointed chief economist of the organisation that represents British business leaders is wasting no time in weighing in on the ails of the UK economy, shooting down one area in particular – tax. Kitty Ussher of the Institute of Directors (IoD) has slammed the [...]
Rishi Sunak to unveil £500m extra funding for Covid jobs programmes October 3, 2021 Rishi Sunak will tomorrow commit to an extra £500m in spending to boost the government’s post-Covid jobs and skills programmes. Sunak will say in his Conservative party conference speech that he will “double down” on his promise to “do whatever it takes” to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods during the pandemic. It comes as the [...]
Boris Johnson admits UK shortages are here to stay until Christmas October 3, 2021 Boris Johnson has admitted the UK’s goods shortages will likely last until Christmas, while adding that “we need to see” a “period of adjustment” post-Brexit. The Prime Minister said today that he would not “pull the lever” of more immigration in the short-term to stop the lorry driver shortages. Petrol shortages are still being seen [...]
Sunak and Johnson strike deal to wean government off borrowing October 3, 2021 Prime minister Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak have brokered a deal to wean the government off borrowing to finance spending. Any new spending announced at the upcoming budget and spending review must be financed by reductions in spending elsewhere or tax hikes, Johnson has reportedly agreed to. The news was first reported by The [...]
Tories told: Time to go for growth in budget as GDP gives some leeway October 1, 2021 CONSUMERS drove a faster than first thought recovery in the second quarter of the year. The Office for National Statistics yesterday upgraded GBP growth in the period from 4.8 per cent to 5.5 per cent. Economists, business groups and campaigners called on the Chancellor to use the additional leeway granted by the upwards revision to [...]
Gas prices hit a five-year high, just a day after three more suppliers go bust – CityAM : CityAM September 30, 2021 Gas prices have hit a five-year high today, a day after the UK’s gas crisis pushed three more suppliers to collapse. UK contracts for next month rose above 238p per therm, while wider European natural gas and power prices also touched new records. It comes as Rishi Sunak is set to announce £500m in grants [...]
Sunak to unveil £500m grants to ease cost of living for UK’s poorest September 30, 2021 Rishi Sunak is set to announce £500m in grants to help the country’s poorest during the current cost of living crisis the UK is facing. The chancellor is expected to announce in his Tory party conference speech next week that it will be put in place to help households cope with costs over what is [...]