The UK legal sector is vital to the City’s international success March 17, 2016 The City of London’s position as a world leader in finance and business is widely acknowledged. I know this only too well from my own work, both as an international commercial barrister and as the current chairman of the Bar of England and Wales. But the City is being challenged by other financial centres in [...]
Budget 2016: George Osborne’s speech in full March 16, 2016 George Osborne has just revealed the Budget for 2016. There was good news for businesses with corporation tax being sliced and business rates being reformed – but bad news for smokers and students who hate maths. Mr Deputy Speaker, Today I report on an economy set to grow faster than any other major advanced economy in [...]
Budget 2016: Chancellor George Osborne delivers tax relief to the UK North Sea oil and gas industry March 16, 2016 Chancellor George Osborne today bowed to pressure from the UK's embattled North Sea oil and gas industry, delivering tax relief to help its companies weather the downturn. Scottish politicians, industry body Oil & Gas UK and North Sea oil baron Algy Cluff had all called on the chancellor to address the industry's urgent predicament in the run [...]
Budget 2016: The stories you missed while chancellor George Osborne was speaking March 16, 2016 From Trump's warning of violence on the streets to US inflation ticking up, here are all the other stories that happened while Chancellor George Osborne was speaking. Obama to visit the UK US president Barack Obama will be paying a visit to the UK at the end of April, allowing him to show gratitude to Britain for [...]
Fidelity analysts back consumer and tech sectors as utilities, industrials and energy lose their appeal March 14, 2016 The consumer and tech sectors will drive corporate earnings growth this year, a survey of analysts at an investment giant revealed today. However, the survey of 200 analysts at Fidelity International reveals they have dramatically toned down their outlook on utilities, industrials and financial companies for this year. Subdued inflation, rising house prices, wage growth and falling unemployment [...]
Budget 2016: It’s time for the Treasury and George Osborne to find elusive cuts, not introduce stealth taxes March 14, 2016 A guaranteed way of keeping someone on your side is to print a bigger number at the bottom of their monthly pay slip – a fact recognised by employers and politicians alike. George Osborne is expected to lift the personal allowance again during Wednesday’s Budget (a commendable continuation of the Liberal Democrats’ longstanding policy) and [...]
15 plans for the future of London transport: From the Northern Line extension to Night Tube and Crossrail 3 March 11, 2016 London Mayor Boris Johnson has said £1.3tn of investment is needed in the capital over the next 35 years in order for London to retain its world class status. Transport is the biggest focus of the "London Infrastructure Plan 2050", and £973bn of spending is needed on transport alone to keep up with the rising population [...]
Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden’s total remuneration plummeted last year, sad face March 10, 2016 Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden's pay packet was cut by almost 80 per cent last year, as the energy giant faced a challenging year ahead of its mega-merger with BG. The boss pocketed a mere €5.1m for 2015, having received a total remuneration of €24.2m the year before, though this included pension accrual, taxes and other [...]
RWE suspends dividend as its posts €637m loss, confirms Npower restructure, warns of worse to come in 2016 March 8, 2016 Energy giant RWE's share price fell this morning after suspending its dividend for 2015 and warning that results will get even worse before there is an improvement. RWE has confirmed it will make 2,400 job cuts at the Big Six firm, after Npower notched up an operating loss of €137m (£106m). RWE's share price fell on the [...]
Brexit or no Brexit, free movement of capital across Europe is vital to Britain’s success March 8, 2016 Debate over Brexit has reached fever pitch, with the political, economic and social impacts of remaining in or leaving the EU rightly being discussed at length. But stepping back from In or Out, whatever decision the public makes, it’s essential that Britain retains free access to European markets. And this is no less true of [...]