‘Mistake’ to focus on flu in pandemic preparedness, David Cameron admits June 19, 2023 David Cameron has admitted it was a “mistake” for his government to focus too heavily on preparing for an influenza wave rather than a potential coronavirus pandemic. The former Conservative prime minister told the official Covid-19 inquiry, which is currently examining the UK’s readiness to respond to a disease outbreak, the decision led to “many [...]
UK unveils new arts fund in bid to boost ‘gangbusters’ creative sector by £50bn June 14, 2023 Ministers have unveiled plans to boost the UK’s “gangbusters” creative industries by up to £50bn. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has revealed a plan to give a multimillion-pound boost across film, music, fashion and gaming, which could see the arts sectors grow by £50bn by 2030. The ‘Creative Industries Sector Vision’ [...]
Exclusive: Rishi Sunak plans shake-up of worker ownership schemes June 4, 2023 Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are drawing up plans to revamp schemes designed to hand workers a stake in their employers, City A.M. can reveal. The Treasury will today ask businesses for their view on the effectiveness of government-sponsored programmes that steer staff toward taking stakes in their employer by offering financial incentives. The Prime [...]
‘Can’t come soon enough’: Will Sunak follow through on 2p tax cut reports? June 4, 2023 Rishi Sunak’s mooted plans to reduce the tax burden from a seven-decade high with a 2p cut in income tax ahead of the next election have been welcomed by Tory campaigners. Reports surfaced in the Sunday Telegraph that the PM – an ex-City banker – is keen to cut charges in order to incentivise work [...]
Swelling debt interest bill fashions second highest April government borrowing on record at £25.6bn May 23, 2023 A near £10bn debt interest bill helped to push UK borrowing to the second highest monthly total for April since records began in 1993, official figures out today reveal. The government took on an additional £25.6bn of debt last month, above market expectations and up from £13.7bn in the same month last year, according to [...]
Jeremy Hunt and Rishi Sunak’s profit tax rise to hit investment, survey finds May 22, 2023 Jeremy Hunt and Rishi Sunak’s corporation tax hike is poised to squeeze the UK economy by mothballing investment, new figures out today show. Nearly half of all mid-sized companies intend to shelve big spending projects due to the Chancellor and Prime Minister snatching a greater share of company profits, according to consultancy BDO. Last month, [...]
Former CBI boss insists organisation did not have a ‘toxic culture’ May 21, 2023 Former CBI chief Dame Carolyn Fairbairn has insisted the organisation did not have a toxic culture as she broke her silence on the sexual misconduct scandal that has engulfed the body in recent months.
Jeremy Hunt pressed on Brexit tariffs after Stellantis warns of job cuts and car factory closures May 17, 2023 Jeremy Hunt insisted the government is “very focussed” on ensuring Britain improves its EV car manufacturing capacity, after Vauxhall and Fiat’s parent firm warned of Brexit-linked concerns. The Chancellor’s comments were made in the wake of worrying remarks by automaker Stellantis, saying the future post-Brexit tariffs could threaten sections of its UK business, placing hundreds [...]
Jeremy Hunt: UK not ‘in a position’ to know if it can cut taxes before election May 17, 2023 The government is currently not “in a position to know whether we’re going to have any headroom at all” to cut taxes in the run up to the next election, Jeremy Hunt claimed today. Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) annual conference, the Chancellor said he and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak “have our [...]
Bank of England interest rate hikes would squeeze Jeremy Hunt’s room for tax cuts by £8bn, City economist claims April 26, 2023 The Bank of England could squeeze Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s room to cut taxes in the run up to the next general election if it keeps hiking interest rates to tame inflation, a City economist has calculated. Officials at Threadneedle Street would swell Britain’s debt interest bill by around £8bn if they send borrowing costs to [...]