‘Wrong priority’: Labour pledges to reintroduce pensions allowance March 16, 2023 Labour says it will reverse the abolition of the lifetime pensions allowance limit, branding the move the “wrong priority”. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced plans to scrap the £1m tax free limit on lifetime savings in pensions in Wednesday’s budget. The move is aimed at keeping Brits – including top NHS staff – in work for [...]
Dominic Raab claims staff ‘relish’ ambitious agenda as bullying inquiry continues March 16, 2023 Justice secretary Dominic Raab has said the “overwhelming majority” of his staff “relish” working on his “very ambitious agenda”, as an ongoing inquiry into bullying claims continues. Adam Tolley KC is investigating bullying claims and considering a number of formal complaints made by senior civil servants against Raab, who is also deputy prime minister. Asked [...]
Defence spending given £11bn boost as former minister warns of new Cold War March 16, 2023 Defence spending is set to increase by £11bn over the next five years amid fears over the UK’s “hollowed out” armed forces. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed in Wednesday’s budget that the Ministry of Defence’s finances would receive an £11bn boost over the next half-decade. But Tobias Ellwood, defence committee chairman, said the Chancellor has left [...]
Budget 2023: Jeremy Hunt’s ‘growth’ plan may embrace childcare and over 50s but hike in corporation tax stays March 15, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered what he claimed was a growth-focused budget centred on childcare reform, pensions and business investment, but the six per cent hike in corporation tax will remain. He unveiled what amounted to a universal childcare policy; abolished the lifetime allowance on tax-free pensions savings; and announced tax breaks for firms investing in [...]
Budget: Jeremy Hunt expected to splash £4bn on childcare expansion March 15, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to spend £4bn on childcare expansion for one and two-year-olds in today’s Budget as part of a drive to get Brits into work and boost growth. Ministers are set to provide an extra 30 free hours a week to parents of toddlers and to raise cash for the existing childcare [...]
One child in every London classroom is homeless, shock council data claims March 15, 2023 One child in every classroom in London is homeless, on average, shock new data from councils across the capital has claimed. There are 166,000 homeless people living in the capital and of these 81,000 are children, a new report from the London Councils network has claimed. On average, this means one in every 23 children [...]
Everything we know about the Spring Budget 2023 so far March 15, 2023 Tomorrow, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will stand on the steps of No11 Downing Street – holding the famous Budget 2023 red box. He’ll be the first Chancellor in the political turmoil of recent months to even hold on to the job long enough to reach this crucial point. The spring statement will lay out the government’s [...]
‘Budget for growth’: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt rolls pitch for Spring statement March 14, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said his spring statement will be a “budget for growth” as he prepares to set out key measures to support firms and families with the cost of living crisis. Hunt will make his annual budget statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday. He is expected to focus on efforts to [...]
Seize Russian cash in UK to fund rebuilding of Ukraine, MPs demand March 14, 2023 MPs are urging the government to seize Russian cash in the UK to help rebuild Ukraine after Putin’s invasion. Frozen Russian assets should be seized and repurposed for reconstruction efforts, a debate in the House of Commons will argue this evening. Foreign affairs select committee chairman, Alicia Kearns, said: “Russia must be held accountable for [...]
Business charm offensive: Reeves discusses investment plans at meeting with Lloyds, Aviva, L&G and British Land March 14, 2023 Labour’s business charm offensive is continuing as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to discuss plans to boost investment. Keir Starmer’s Labour has positioned itself as the ‘party of business’ as it aims to exploit the Conservatives’ reputational hit following the economic chaos of Liz Truss’s calamitous mini-budget. Reeves will discuss plans to boost business [...]
