Gordon Brown joins 50 charities urging action on cost of living crisis, u-turn on ‘unthinkable’ below-inflation benefit rise March 17, 2022 Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined around 50 charities urging the government to urgently address the cost of living crisis, and change its mind on a below-inflation benefits rise. Pressure was growing on ministers this week not to go ahead with the rise of 3.1 per cent in the Spring statement, as inflation is set [...]
Rampant inflation to push tax bills £12bn above forecasts March 16, 2022 Rampant inflation is set to deliver an even harsher hit to households’ tax bills than first thought, reveals fresh analysis released today. A higher cost of living will result in a £12.5bn larger tax hike, piling more pressure on Brits’ already stretched finances, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision [...]
UK recorded music hits a high note thanks to vinyl and CD revivals March 16, 2022 UK recorded music continues to hit a high note, with revenue up 12.8 per cent to £1.26bn following 2020’s pandemic slump.
Ofgem considers halving price cap implementation period March 15, 2022 Ofgem has revealed it could halve the implementation period for the price cap - cutting it down from two months to one month.
Ex-minister: Billions lost in Covid fraud ‘one of biggest cock-ups’ in recent history March 15, 2022 Billions of taxpayer money lost through Covid loan fraud is “one of the most colossal cock-ups in recent government management”, the ex-fraud minister has said. Lord Theodore Agnew told MPs on Westminster’s business committee that he was told to “butt out” by Treasury officials when he tried to crack down on fraudsters taking out Covid [...]
UK bans export of luxury goods to Russia and introduces hiked import tariffs March 15, 2022 The UK has banned the export of luxury goods to Russia, including designer handbags and works of art. The Chancellor also outlined new import tariffs that will represent a 35 percentage point increase on current rates. The fresh tariffs will hit products like Russian vodka, fertiliser and steel. Products no longer allowed to be exported [...]
Number of Brits in jobs up by 275,000 people to record 29.7m March 15, 2022 The number of UK workers on payrolls rose by 275,000 between January and February to a record 29.7 million, the Office for National Statistics said this morning. Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the Office for National Statistics, said: “The labour market continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic, with the number of unemployed [...]
Russia-Ukraine war raises spectre of UK recession March 14, 2022 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine risks plunging the UK economy into recession by propelling inflation to historic levels, according to a new report released today. Soaring food and energy prices triggered by the conflict could send the cost of living for the poorest households in the UK above 10 per cent, research published today by the [...]
Government needs to step up support for small firms at spring statement March 14, 2022 The government needs to step up support for small businesses to turbo charge the UK economy at this month’s spring statement, according to Britain’s top small firm representative body. Small businesses need support to cope with huge increases in raw material and staffing costs, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The organisation today [...]
Sunak: UK businesses need to urgently cut links with Russia March 13, 2022 More British businesses need to urgently cut any ties with Russia to “inflict maximum economic pain – and to stop further bloodshed,” Chancellor Rishi Sunak urged today. Western blue-chips have been severing ties with Moscow in a combined effort to freeze Russia out of the global economy. The likes of Shell and BP are in [...]