Commons chiefs are threatening to ‘pull the plug’ on the Parliamentary restoration body amid warnings its plans could cost £20billion. It is understood that the ruling Commons commission refused to sign off on two years of funding for the programme at a recent meeting – instead merely approving £155million for this year. Senior sources told … Read more
Labour’s pledge to put No 10’s planned 1 per cent pay rise for nurses at the heart of its local election campaign could mean that one well-heeled minister’s nonchalant dismissal of the nurses’ case will come back to haunt the Government. ‘There are many people in this country who look upon professional jobs in the … Read more
Ministers were yesterday accused of ‘moving the goalposts’ and creating uncertainty in plans to lift the lockdown. They were urged by MPs to stick to Boris Johnson’s ‘data not dates’ pledge and publish target figures for when restrictions could be eased. It came as business leaders warned more than 3,500 pubs, bars and restaurants face … Read more
Boris Johnson is in Northern Ireland today amid a furious row over the impact of Brexit on the country. The Prime minister was told to to ‘stand up for Northern Ireland’ and ditch the ‘intolerable’ Protocol governing Irish Sea trade post-Brexit by DUP leader Arlene Foster. Extra checks on goods passing through Northern Ireland’s ports from … Read more
Rishi Sunak today stoked hopes a £180billion consumer boom will fuel the UK’s recovery – but admitted that fears of mass unemployment ‘keep me up at night’. The Chancelllor voiced optimism that a fast bounceback will fueled by the huge savings warchest built up by those who have kept working through the pandemic. But he … Read more
Michael Gove announces Britain will delay the introduction of post-Brexit checks on some goods from the EU for six months due to Covid chaos Michael Gove said introduction of controls on some EU imports will be delayed Minister for the Cabinet Office said delay has been caused by Covid disruption The border controls were due … Read more
US drops tariffs on whisky, cashmere and Stilton as trade deal with Britain inches closer – two months after Liz Truss axed fees on American imports US said millions worth of tariffs on Scotch and other goods would be suspended Cashmere and cheese are also set to benefit from the American relaxation Comes a month … Read more
Rishi Sunak’s ‘super deduction’ could let Amazon wipe out its bill: Online giant’s corporation tax could be cut to zero, campaigners warn The online retail giant’s British sales soared 51 per cent to £19.4billion last year Its warehousing arm paid £6.3mil in tax in 2019 despite raking in £3bn in sales But campaign groups say … Read more
The five-year freeze on income tax in yesterday’s Budget has been blasted as a ‘stealth and wealth tax’ which will drag 2.3 million workers into higher tax brackets. Rishi Sunak’s decision not to raise income tax and National Insurance thresholds will amount to a pay cut in real terms for millions of hard-working, middle-class families. … Read more
Budget 2021 at a glance Here are the main points of Rishi Sunak’s Budget: Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicts economy will return to pre-Covid levels by the middle of 2022, six months earlier than previously thought. OBR forecast economy will grow this year by 4 per cent, by 7.3 per cent in 2022, then … Read more