News Archive

7/10/2024

Prime Minister Puts Investment At The Heart Of First Council Of The Nations And Regions

Leaders from across the UK will come together in Scotland next week [Friday 11 October] as the Prime Minister convenes the first Council of Nations and Regions.   Prime Minister convenes leaders from across the UK for Council of the Nations and Regions in Scotland on Friday 11 October.  

7/10/2024

Restaurant Chain Tgi Fridays Victim Of Changing Tastes And Cost Of Living

On 7 October 2024 Thursdays UK Limited, operating under the brand ‘TGI Fridays UK', entered administration and Daniel Smith and Julian Heathcote of Teneo Financial Advisory Limited were appointed as Joint Administrators.   Immediately following the appointment, the Joint Administrators completed a sale of 51 sites, including the transfer of 2,389 employees.  

7/10/2024

Will The ISA Suffer in the Budget

Labour has made much of its pre election promise not to touch taxes that would affect working people like income tax or VAT.  That leaves limited choices after cutting off the biggest sources to hit.  

7/10/2024

1,000 Uk Troops Show Commitment To Eastern Europe In NATO Exercise

More than 1,000 British troops have begun one of the largest exercises this year in the Balkans, showing the UK's commitment to the region’s security.   The training will develop the UK’s ability to operate alongside NATO allies and underlines Britain’s commitment to eastern Europe.  

7/10/2024

Uk Trade Mission Visits Kyiv To Deepen Industry Ties

Trade mission agrees key requirements for Ukraine's future equipment and capability needs.   A UK trade mission, formed of representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Department for Business and Trade, and the defence trade association ADS, visited Ukraine to hold meetings with Ukrainian Government and industry representatives.  

7/10/2024

MHRA launches 2024/25 business plan with focus on enabling access to groundbreaking new technology while optimising delivery for all who need our services

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today launched its ambitious new business plan for 2024/25, setting out the agency's core focus of enabling access to innovative healthcare products.  This while ensuring delivery for all who need its services - patients and the public, healthcare professionals, researchers and developers.  

7/10/2024

Halifax House Price Index - House Prices In September 2024 Were 4.7% Higher Than The Same Month A Year Earlier

Amanda Bryden, Head of Mortgages, Halifax, said, "UK house prices climbed for the third month in a row in September, with a slight increase of +0.3%, or £859 in cash terms.  Annual growth edged up to +4.7%, the highest rate since November 2022.  

7/10/2024

 
£160m Boost For Uk Poultry Industry As Exports To South Africa Restart

UK farmers and traders will once again be able to export poultry to South Africa.   British poultry can once again reach South African tables, after the UK secured market access estimated to bring up to £160m to industry over the next five years.  

7/10/2024

More Action Needed To Protect Future Water Resources - Additional 5 Billion Litres Of Water Needed Every Day By 2050

Almost a fifth (19%) of water supplies are lost by water companies before reaching customers' taps, a new report from the Environment Agency has found.   The new report published today (Monday 7 October) assesses water companies' annual performance data against their Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs), which include steps to reduce leakage, install meters and develop new additional supplies.  

7/10/2024

10,000 Boost State Pension With Online Payments - Six Months To Go To Maximise Your State Pension

Individuals have less than 6 months to fill any gaps in their National Insurance records from 2006 onwards to maximise their State Pension.   Thousands have topped up their National Insurance record using the government's online service.  

7/10/2024

 
Six Months To Move To Universal Credit For Tax Credit Customers

DWP is urging Tax Credit customers to respond to their Universal Credit migration notices so they continue to receive benefits.   Tax credits are closing in April 2025 and customers must respond to their migration notices to continue receiving benefits.  

6/10/2024

 
Capital Gains Tax Reform

Should the government raise capital gains tax in the Budget?.  What is the case for reforming capital gains tax? What are the options for reform?.  

6/10/2024

 
The Cost Of Building A House

A new report by The Housing Forum answers the all-important question: How much does it cost to build a house? The Housing Forum, is a cross-sector body for the construction and housing sector and became aware of concern across the sector about the rising costs of building new homes.  The high inflation seen over the last few years has had a particularly severe effect on construction and is having a long-term impact on costs, with delays and uncertainty in the planning system exacerbating the issue.  

6/10/2024

 
Child Poverty - Trends And Policy Options

Relative child poverty has increased.  Which children are most likely to be affected? What policies would most effectively reduce child poverty?.  

6/10/2024

 
Bottled Up In The Black Sea: Russia Is Having A Dreadful Naval War, Hindering Its Great Power Ambitions

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has played out largely on land and in the air.  It is a bitterly contested, grueling ground war, accompanied by brutal Russian aerial attacks on civilian infrastructure and a slow but increasing Ukrainian response.  

6/10/2024

 
Torsten Bell Is Labour's Rising Star - He Could Now Be On A Collision Course Over Its Economic Policy

The Labour MP Torsten Bell is widely considered to be a rising star of the party.  His recent book, Great Britain? How We Get Our Future Back, provides a detailed description of what he sees as the key economic challenges facing the UK today and proposes a series of policy ideas to return the country to economic and social prosperity.  

6/10/2024

 
The Effect Of Center-based Early Education On Disadvantaged Children's Developmental Trajectories - Experimental Evidence From Colombia

Early childhood development is a global priority, yet questions remain about how best to support disadvantaged children in low- and middle- income countries.  We study the impacts of high-quality, center-based early childhood education on low income children in Colombia through a randomized controlled trial, tracking participants longitudinally over five years.  

6/10/2024

 
Whats More Scary And Spooky Than Halloween This Year - The Budget

There has been huge amounts of speculation about the coming UK budget and what is going to be in it.   The government came to power promising no changes to Income Tax, VAT and Corporation Tax but there a wide range of potential horrors that could still be coming depending on your personal circumstances.  

6/10/2024

 
What's The Real Reason Why We Tax - Richard Murphy

Most people assume that we tax to fund government spending, but we don't in economies like that we have in the UK.   Instead, we have an economy where the government spends by creating new money and tax then takes it out of circulation, and that creates a need for very different economic management from that we're being offered.  

6/10/2024

 
Russian Payment Collapse - Joe Blogs

In this video I discuss the recent announcement that Russia has struck a trade deal with Pakistan under which it will be paid in POTATOES, ORANGES & RICE.   This deal has been agreed due to the ongoing payment problems that Russia is experiencing as a result of the Financial Sanctions.