Sadiq Khan calls on government to extend furlough scheme July 27, 2020 Sadiq Khan has once again called on the government to extend its furlough scheme for struggling sectors ahead of changes this weekend which could lead to a surge in unemployment. From Saturday employers will have to pay national insurance and pension contributions for furloughed employees. However, for many sectors such as hospitality and leisure, the [...]
Over-40s to pay more tax under plans to solve social care crisis July 27, 2020 Over-40s will be forced to pay more tax or national insurance under radical new plans being considered by ministers to solve the social care crisis, according to reports. Under fresh government plans, everyone under the age of 40 will have to start contributing towards the cost of care in later life, or be compelled to [...]
Where is the no-deal planning we need to extract a deal from the EU? July 24, 2020 The UK ended its fifth round of negotiations this week, and still there has been no agreement on the principles of a future trading deal — let alone an actual deal. This was all too predictable. The EU is seeking a deal founded in ideology, and the UK simply wants to trade. Back in January, [...]
We can’t tax our way out of the Covid-19 crisis — instead, the chancellor must drive growth July 24, 2020 There has never been a time to my knowledge when, in the run up to a Budget or other fiscal event, the Treasury has not highlighted the pressures on public finances which made the option for significant (or, indeed, any) net tax cuts unwise. Typically, projected shortfalls in the state’s annual budgets have been in [...]
Tory MPs vote against protecting the NHS from a post-Brexit trade deal July 21, 2020 Tory MPs last night voted down an amendment to the government’s Trade Bill intended to protect the NHS from any form of control from outside the UK, in a major blow to Britain’s health service as it grapples with the aftermath of the pandemic. Labour proposed an amendment to the Trade Bill which would have [...]
Linkedin to cut 960 jobs in pandemic restructuring July 21, 2020 Linkedin is to cut around 960 jobs, or six per cent of its workforce, as it struggles to maintain demand for its products during the pandemic. The Microsoft-owned professional social network helps workers find new roles and recruiters source fresh talent. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global employment has left Linkedin with falling [...]
Crypto AM shines its Spotlight on Venrai July 21, 2020 Venrai provides a suite of compliance advisory, security audit and technology development services to those organisations possessing appetite to seize the disruptive benefits afforded by blockchain technologies. What is the opportunity? Blockchain can most succinctly be described as the “Internet of Value”. Whereas the internet itself is merely a digital communication network, excitement quickly ensues [...]
Uber faces final Supreme Court appeal to argue drivers are not employees July 20, 2020 Uber will tomorrow begin one final attempt to overturn a ruling that means it must treat its drivers as “workers” in what could be a landmark case for UK employment rights. The ride-hailing app has already been defeated on the two previous occasions it has tried to challenge the ruling, which was first made in [...]
Dividend recovery ‘could take six years’ after record-breaking fall July 20, 2020 Shareholder payouts could take up to six years to recover to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, the latest research has shown, after companies were forced to slash dividends during the crisis. Dividends were down £22bn to £16.1bn in the second quarter of the year, a record fall of 57.2 per cent year on year. Underlying dividends, excluding [...]
FTSE 100 inches up as EU begins €750bn fund discussion July 17, 2020 The FTSE 100 eked out a minor rise today, staying just about in the green to post a 0.11 per cent gain by 10.45am. European stocks were mixed as traders witnessed a nervy start to a crucial meeting of the EU to agree on a €750bn package, and whether it should be mainly given out [...]