Boris Johnson has forgone Conservative party principles with his climate change tactics September 7, 2021 Governments that set ambitious targets — with no intention or realistic plan to meet them — are fundamentally deceptive and intrinsically anti conservative. This is especially apparent when it comes to UK efforts to combat climate change. A true conservative is pragmatic and has realistic plans for the future. They understand gradual change is preferable [...]
Sajid Javid confirms £5.4bn extra NHS England funding for winter September 6, 2021 Sajid Javid has today announced NHS England will receive an extra £5.4bn in funding over winter in a bid to clear the Covid-related hospital backlog. The health secretary announced that £1bn will go directly on easing the waiting list, £2.8bn will be used to cover related costs such as enhanced infection control measures and £478 [...]
IoD: Hiking national insurance to pay for social care is illogical September 6, 2021 The Institute of Directors has criticised the government’s reported decision to hike national insurance to pay for social care and clearing the backlog of NHS work. The influential organisation that represents UK business leaders said using national insurance to fund social care is illogical as the levy is intended to provide a safety net for [...]
Number 10 prepares for battle over National Insurance rise to fund social care September 5, 2021 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are set to face internal backlash over the pair’s plan to rise National Insurance to pay for NHS rise and social care reform. The pair are expected to unveil the “NHS and Social Care Levy” next week as parliament resumes, which will see employee and employer National Insurance Contributions increase [...]
Boris Johnson expected to breach manifesto national insurance and triple lock pledges September 4, 2021 Prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to breach two key Tory manifesto pledges next week, according to reports. Johnson is set to hike national insurance and limit the rate of uplifts to millions of pensioners’ state pensions, The Times reports. The NI increase is expected to be one percentage point and estimated to raise £13bn. [...]
Javid calls for two percentage point hike to national insurance to fund social care September 3, 2021 Health secretary Sajid Javid has called for a higher hike to national insurance to fund clearing the swelling backlog of NHS work and social care, according to reports. Javid has reportedly pushed for a two percentage point increase to NICs in a bid to raise funds for England’s ailing social care system. Javid’s proposed level [...]
Treasury civil servants to work from home forever in blow to Rishi Sunak September 2, 2021 Treasury civil servants will be allowed to work from home indefinitely in a blow to Rishi Sunak’s credibility. Job adverts for roles at HM Treasury reveal that staff will be allowed to work from home in a hybrid pattern on a permanent basis, spending an average of two to three days a week in the [...]
Another Goldman banker or a much needed hawkish voice: Who is Huw Pill? September 2, 2021 Much has been made over whether the corridors of the Bank of England will resemble a Goldman Sachs office following the appointment of Huw Pill as the Old Lady’s new chief economist. It does follow a string of high-profile appointments at the Bank in recent years from the pool of Goldman alumni. Mark Carney, who [...]
Freeports face delay due to ‘lack of tax detail’, experts say September 2, 2021 Tax experts have warned that the opening of England’s eight new freeports would likely be delayed because the government had yet to reveal details of the tax regime for the programme. After the locations for the new free trade zones were announced during March’s Budget the Treasury said that the programme could be up and [...]
Britain and India have a wealth of historical ties – now is the time to make it a 21st century partnership September 2, 2021 India has huge growth potential which is yet to be fully realised by UK businesses. Despite the historic ties, the large Indian diaspora in the UK and our familiarity with its food and festivals, India has not received the attention it deserves. There are, of course, hurdles to closer ties between the two nations, but [...]