Virgin Atlantic boss calls on Govt to make ‘difficult decisions’ and bring pound up September 27, 2022 Virgin Atlantic’s boss Shai Weiss has called on Prime Minister Liz Truss to make “difficult decisions” and bring the pound’s value up. “The message to the government is pretty clear in my mind,” he told journalists on Tuesday morning. “Prime Minister Liz Truss has taken difficult decisions upon entering the role. “Maybe you need to [...]
Mortgage lenders withdraw some products after mini-budget market turmoil September 27, 2022 By PA Banks and building societies are withdrawing some of their mortgages from sale after the Government’s mini-budget on Friday sparked massive market turmoil. Three lenders have so far withdrawn some of their products amid the uncertainty. Virgin Money said: “Given market conditions we have temporarily withdrawn Virgin Money mortgage products for new business customers. [...]
A new Tory green agenda has to be stubbornly pro-growth September 27, 2022 In 1990, Margaret Thatcher called for action on climate change, remarking that we all need to “make changes and sacrifices, so that we do not live at the expense of future generations”. The key question is whether Truss will follow in the footsteps of her idol, or take more inspiration from Thatcher’s climate sceptic Chancellor [...]
London’s FTSE 100 squeezes out gain as house builders tumble September 26, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 squeezed out a small gain today despite investors ditching house builders in response to the Bank of England signalling it will hike interest rates sharply. The capital’s premier index edged 0.03 per cent higher to below the 7,020.95 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250, which is more aligned with the health [...]
Pound slides after Bank of England bats away emergency rate hike pressure September 26, 2022 Sterling collapsed to an all time low this morning as investor confidence evaporated in the wake of the government’s plans to slash taxes and ramp up borrowing in a ‘mini-budget’ last week.
Attention turns to Starmer as Labour conference kicks off tomorrow September 24, 2022 Attention has turned to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as the party’s annual conference kicks off tomorrow. Taking place in Liverpool from Sunday until Wednesday, the conference will provide an opportunity for Starmer to assert himself as the next prime minister. Supporters hope Starmer will use the meeting to mark the stark divide between his [...]
Half of tax cuts in Kwarteng’s mini-budget will go to richest five per cent, Resolution Foundation claims September 23, 2022 Half of the Chancellor’s planned tax cuts will go to the richest five per cent of the country, a leading think-tank has said. In sharp criticism of today’s raft of new policies in the mini-budget, the Resolution Foundation hit out at Kwasi Kwarteng for having “blown the budget”. This comes after Kwarteng announced a tax [...]
Kwarteng marks himself out as the most radical Chancellor since Lawson September 23, 2022 When Kwasi Kwarteng said he wanted to go for growth, it appears he meant it. Some will say the tax reforms announced today are ‘unfunded’ and reckless. Others will say it’s not the time for changes to banker’s pay. But in his ambition and his vision of a competitive Britain, the Chancellor has placed the [...]
Kwarteng makes permanent cut to stamp duty in a bid to drive growth September 23, 2022 Kwasi Kwarteng confirmed stamp duty would be slashed from today in a bid to drive growth and boost confidence in the economy. Announcing his mini-budget, Kwarteng said: “Today’s statement is about growth. Home ownership is the most common route for people to own an asset, giving them a stake in the success of our economy [...]
Average monthly mortgage bill rises to £1,150 as new buyers set to struggle September 23, 2022 Average mortgage repayments are now above £1,150, as house sales are set to plummet with further rate-rises expected. Experts at Savills have said the Bank of England’s seventh consecutive base rate rise is hitting home-owners hard, and new buyers even harder. The hike to 2.25 per cent yesterday, the highest since 2014, means home-owners may [...]