‘Doing a day’s work seen as stressful’ by youth, Liz Kendall says February 7, 2025 The UK must avoid a situation where “doing a day’s work is in itself seen as stressful” by young people, Liz Kendall has warned. The work and pensions secretary has told ITV: “There is genuinely a problem with many young people, particularly the Covid generation, but we can’t have a situation where doing a day’s [...]
Government implements alcohol tax reliefs but critics say it’s not enough January 31, 2025 The government has implemented two tax reliefs aimed at growing the UK’s alcohol sector, although critics have said they won’t be enough to offset other cost hikes this year. Labour will implement a draught relief increase, cutting 1p duty off draft pints, as well as small producer relief, which the government said will help small [...]
Politicians should drop their obsession with Silicon Valley January 30, 2025 Successive British politicians have reached for Silicon Valley – or the idea of Silicon Valley – every time they’ve wanted to project a vision of the future. In 2010 David Cameron set out plans to turn East London into “a world-leading tech city to rival Silicon Valley.” Seven years later, Theresa May’s government was still [...]
FCA chief: City firms should get ready for a ‘different relationship’ with us January 28, 2025 City firms should expect a “different relationship” with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and fewer “detailed rules”, as the watchdog rows in behind the government’s drive for growth, its chief executive Nikhil Rathi has said. In an interview with the Following the Rules podcast, the FCA boss warned the regulator was being forced to “rigorously” prioritise its [...]
Tories push for school smartphone ban to be added to education bill January 25, 2025 The Tories will push for a ban on smartphones in schools to be included in the Government’s education Bill. The Conservatives are tabling an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to end the use of mobile phones and other devices during school days by pupils. It is understood that the Labour government has [...]
Football regulator: Fight over Brady-backed ‘sunset clause’ hots up January 13, 2025 Conservative peers including West Ham United chair Karren Brady are this week expected to step up their push for a “sunset clause” that critics fear will render the incoming independent football regulator toothless. The sunset clause would allow for the football regulator to be scrapped after a set period time, likely to be five years, [...]
We need a government that gets business, not businessmen running government January 13, 2025 The idea that business leaders can transform the way government works didn’t start with Elon musk, but success in politics demands different skills to entrepreneurship, says Eliot Wilson Business feels let down by the current government. Before the general election, Sir Keir Starmer and his shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, staged an updated performance of the [...]
New car market in UK up 2.6 per cent in 2024, figures reveal January 4, 2025 The UK’s new car market recorded its second successive year of growth with a 2.6 per cent rise in registrations in 2024, new figures show. Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said around 1,953,000 new cars were registered last year, compared with 1,903,000 in 2023. Growth was delivered entirely by purchases [...]
Five predictions for British politics in 2025 January 1, 2025 Eliot Wilson looks into his crystal ball to predict five things that will happen in the coming year There is an old Danish proverb, often misattributed to the New York Yankees’ legendary catcher Yogi Berra, that it is hard to make predictions, especially about the future. In politics, it can be high risk and high [...]
Downing Street rejects Elon Musk’s claim firms are turning away from UK December 30, 2024 Downing Street insisted Sir Keir Starmer was running an “unashamedly” pro-growth government after Elon Musk lashed out at his policies. Tesla boss Mr Musk said “very few companies” would be willing to put money into the UK under “the current administration”. Mr Musk, a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, was responding to calls [...]