UK paid more tax on alcohol and cigarettes than stamp duty during the pandemic February 22, 2022 New analysis has revealed how the pandemic influenced tax growth across the UK, as HMRC received more from Alcohol and Tobacco duties during the 2020/21 tax year than they did for stamp duty. RIFT Tax Refunds’ data on the total receipts received by HMRC during the first full pandemic tax year of 2020 to 2021 [...]
Public sector debt climbs to record £2.32 trillion: 94.9 per cent of Britain’s GDP February 22, 2022 Government borrowing hit a surplus of £2.9 billion in January, reversing a £2.5 billion deficit in the same month a year earlier, according to official figures published this morning. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector borrowing from the end of March to December was £138.5 billion – the second highest since records [...]
Markets roll over as Putin lays down the gauntlet: ‘Ball is now firmly in NATO’s court’ February 22, 2022 Reports of a possible summit between US President Biden, and Russian President Vladimir Putin saw European markets get off to a decent start to the week initially. Unfortunately, the early optimism didn’t last, and the France inspired initiative soon went the way of every previous initiative in trying to understand exactly what it is Russia [...]
European leaders condemn Russia’s recognition of Ukraine breakaway regions February 21, 2022 Vladimir Putin has recognised two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent states - laying the groundwork for an invasion.
Editorial: Make no mistake – Putin would turn the clock back to the Cold War February 21, 2022 Vladimir Putin did not just signal his intentions to recognise two breakaway Ukrainian republics last night, nor did he only lay the groundwork for a coming invasion of at least those territories. In a speech ostensibly to the Russian people but very much to the world, he declared, simply and clearly – the Cold War [...]
Solvency II regulations to go in first sign of post-Brexit shake-up February 21, 2022 The Government has unveiled plans to slash regulation in the insurance sector and allow Britain’s insurance giants to unleash a flood of funding into UK infrastructure projects, in a major shakeup to EU-era financial rules. Speaking to insurance bosses last night, City Minister John Glen said the Government will overhaul 2016 Solvency II regulation which [...]
Living with Covid: Legal duty to isolate and routine contact tracing both end on Thursday February 21, 2022 People who test positive for coronavirus will no longer be legally required to isolate from Thursday, and free universal testing will end in April under Boris Johnson’s plan for “living with Covid”. The Prime Minister detailed the strategy for England to the Commons late on Monday afternoon after a Cabinet disagreement thought to centre on [...]
UK defence secretary sounds alarm as Russian troops amass on Ukraine border February 21, 2022 Britain's defence secretary has warned that Russia is building up troops along Ukraine's border amid fears an invasion is immanent.
Iain Duncan Smith: Government has done ‘sweet FA’ to cut EU red tape February 21, 2022 Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has said that the government has done “sweet FA” to make the most of the post-Brexit landscape. In an interview with the Telegraph, Sir Iain said that the UK has huge opportunities in finance and medical research, which the government is not seizing. He said that we must [...]
‘Levelling up’ under fire for failing to help jobseekers February 21, 2022 Michael Gove’s levelling up strategy has come under fire for failing to support “the most vulnerable in society”. It comes after the Independent reported a two-year wait for government cash to help people into work after it was announced that replacement job schemes would only be funded “from 2024-25”. The paper reported last year that [...]
