Labour’s proposal to impose VAT on private school fees from January is facing a High Court legal challenge on grounds that it breaches human rights law. Lawyers have argued that the policy discriminates against children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and have threatened legal action if the policy is not withdrawn. The legal […]
Martin Seidenberg, CEO of International Distribution Services (IDS), the parent company of Royal Mail, has issued a stern warning to the government, stressing that ministers will be held accountable if they do not support changes to the postal operator’s universal service obligation (USO). This requirement mandates uniform pricing for deliveries across the UK, regardless of […]
The UK Government is expected to increase the state pension by more than £400 a year, following criticism of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance. Treasury calculations suggest that the full state pension could rise in line with average earnings due to the April implementation of the triple lock, which ensures […]
The Labour government is expected to abandon plans for a ‘British Isa,’ a scheme initially proposed by the previous Conservative administration to encourage investment in UK stocks. The move comes amid concerns that the initiative would complicate the individual savings account (Isa) market rather than effectively support UK equities. The ‘British Isa’ was announced by […]
Fentimans, a renowned maker of traditional soft drinks since 1905, has warned that proposed government plans to introduce a glass tax could threaten the company’s future. The tax, part of an “extended producer responsibility” initiative by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), is expected to add an estimated £300 per tonne to […]
The UK’s private sector economy grew more rapidly than anticipated in August, with businesses expressing concerns over potential tax increases in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s upcoming first budget. The S&P Global composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 53.8 in August from 52.8 in July, surpassing analysts’ predictions of 53.4 and marking a four-month high. A […]
Aldi is lobbying Sir Keir Starmer to accelerate planning permission processes for new supermarkets as the retailer faces prolonged approval times from local councils. George Brown, Aldi’s national real estate director, recently met with a senior special adviser to the Prime Minister, pushing for reforms that align with the Government’s agenda to drive economic growth […]
Labour’s plan to overhaul the non-dom tax regime could cost the UK government up to £1 billion as wealthy individuals flee the country, a report by Oxford Economics has warned. The proposed reforms, which will take effect from April 2025, aim to replace the current system allowing non-doms to avoid tax on overseas income for […]
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has vowed to pursue a £3 billion claim against the estate of Mike Lynch, the founder of British software company Autonomy, following his death onboard the superyacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily. The tech tycoon and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, were among seven victims when the vessel sank two weeks […]
Raising the windfall tax on the UK’s oil and gas companies could undermine the government’s goal of boosting economic growth, according to industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK). The group warns that the planned tax hike could slash investment, resulting in a £13 billion loss to the UK economy from 2025 to 2029 and putting […]