Budget 2015: “Saving revolution” as Osborne pledges first-time buyer Isa March 18, 2015 George Osborne unveiled a Budget aimed at helping savers, first time buyers and pensioners today, with measures including a "Help to Buy Isa". Under the new rules, the government will contribute £50 for each £200 saved by first-time buyers. Savers who put away £12,000 could stand to make as much as £3,000 Just before he [...]
Budget 2015 summary: Analysts, economists and think tanks give their verdict on Osborne March 18, 2015 George Osborne delivered a Budget stacked with facts, figures and policies intended to ward off Labour's cost of living offensive and get the electorate on side before May the reactions are already flooding in. Here is a sampling of analysts' reactions to the final set-piece event of the coalition government. BNP Paribas' Dominic Bryant gives [...]
Budget 2015: What to watch out for today March 17, 2015 WHO: GEORGE OSBORNE WHEN: 12.30PM TODAY WHERE: HOUSE OF COMMONS WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW A further shake up of pensions Over 55-year-olds who had previously been forced to buy an annuity will be able to sell it for a lump cash sum to use as they wish, instead of receiving the regular payouts, building on reforms from [...]
Top Rabobank trader banned for rate rigging March 17, 2015 A FORMER senior trader at Rabobank was yesterday banned by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) over Libor rate-rigging. Paul Robson is the first trader to be banned by the City regulator for attempted Libor manipulation. The FCA action follows a US criminal conviction for Robson over interest rate-rigging. He was the second person at the [...]
Budget 2015: We need a second wave of the consumer revolution to restore faith in capitalism March 17, 2015 Today, the chancellor presents his last Budget before the General Election. With limited room for tax giveaways, and a need to show that the Tories are on the side of the “little guy”, it’s time for the second wave of the British competition revolution – to arm consumers to take on big business. Ed Miliband’s [...]
George Osborne Budget 2015: Here’s everything we already know March 16, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne is busily putting the finishing touches to his final Budget speech for this parliament, and while he's been keen to stress fiscal constraints mean it's going to be rather light on the ground, here's a quick round-up of what people think he'll pull out of the red box tomorrow: "No giveaways, no [...]
The Conservatives have outlived their usefulness: It’s time for a southern party March 16, 2015 Us southerners are over-taxed, says Kelvin MacKenzie. We must fight back I FEEL gloomy about the outcome of the General Election. If you could choose your enemy in politics, I presume David Cameron would pick Ed Miliband ahead of anybody else on the Labour benches with the possible exception of that portly prat Tom Watson. [...]
General Election 2015: The Conservatives have outlived their usefulness – it’s time for a Southern Party March 15, 2015 I feel gloomy about the outcome of the General Election. If you could choose your enemy in politics, I presume David Cameron would pick Ed Miliband ahead of anybody else on the Labour benches with the possible exception of that portly prat Tom Watson. But I look at the issue from the other end [...]
General Election 2015: Unemployment is driving some young voters from the Conservatives to Labour March 12, 2015 Some young people who voted for the Conservatives in the last general election are choosing to vote Labour this time, according to Reuters. The news agency spoke to a sample of first-time voters in 2010, and tracked them down again this month to find out how their opinions had changed in the run up to [...]
London house prices: Foxtons share price dips as slowing luxury market takes its toll March 11, 2015 The figures Upmarket estate agent Foxtons had a topsy-turvy year in 2014, with the gradual slowing in London house price growth dragging down its share price. Earlier in the year when prices were still rising fast the skies were only blue. Chief executive Nic Budden said it best: last year was a year of "contrasting [...]