Brexit: Britain to sign sixth US state-level trade deal since leaving EU September 26, 2023 The UK is poised to sign its sixth trade agreement with a US state. Industry and economic security minister Nusrat Ghani will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Washington state in Seattle. The West Coast state is home to major US companies including Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft and Boeing, with the aerospace sector a priority [...]
Labour vows to overhaul apprenticeship levy to improve skills and growth September 25, 2023 Labour has pledged to reform the apprenticeship levy in a bid to encourage firms to improve their employees' skills.
Lib Dems chase ‘blue wall’ voters by scrapping plan to raise income tax by 1p September 25, 2023 The Liberal Democrats have dropped their plans to raise income tax by 1p in a bid to woo Conservative voters in so-called blue wall seats during the cost of living crisis. Leader Sir Ed Davey told the BBC he ruled out tax rises even on the wealthiest as his party seeks to target former Tories [...]
Scrapping HS2 risks wrecking future UK infrastructure, top Tories warn Sunak September 25, 2023 The government risks wrecking the UK’s future infrastructure projects if it goes ahead with “in effect scrapping” the HS2 railway line. Former Chancellor George Osborne and Tory grandee Lord Heseltine have warned Rishi Sunak that failing to complete HS2 would be “an act of huge economic self-harm”. It follows widespread reports the government is considering [...]
Labour pledge to overhaul audit and corporate governance regime September 25, 2023 The Labour Party has said it will pass long-awaited legislation on audit and corporate governance reforms if it wins the next general election.
Long-term sickness prevents 2.5m people from working, report suggests September 25, 2023 Women, young men and people unable to work from home are more likely to suffer from long-term sickness which prevents them from working, according to a new report. One in 16 working-aged people in the UK – or around 2.5m – are “economically inactive” due to long-term sickness, the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) said. [...]
Hunt’s mooted ISA reforms offer ‘a beacon of hope’ to struggling firms, business groups say September 24, 2023 Top City business groups have welcomed suggestions the Treasury could reform rules around ISAs in a bid to supercharge London-listed firms.
Tory MPs split over timing of reported plans to slash inheritance tax September 24, 2023 Conservative MPs are split over the timing of reported plans to slash inheritance tax rates, with some warning the move risks fuelling perceptions of intergenerational unfairness. Rishi Sunak is reportedly preparing to announce a cut to inheritance tax, before abolishing it entirely, according to the Sunday Times. It comes as Sunak is said to be [...]
Bill Gates-backed nuclear power firm fears losing out on UK projects September 24, 2023 Bill Gates-backed nuclear power player Terrapower is concerned it may miss out on government approval for UK projects.
Government would be ‘crazy’ not to reconsider HS2 costs, minister says September 24, 2023 The government would be “crazy” not to reconsider the costs of the HS2 rail project, Grant Shapps has told the BBC. Shapps said Rishi Sunak was prepared to take “difficult long-term decisions” amid reports the Prime Minister is set to axe the northern leg of HS2. The defence secretary told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura [...]
