Autumn Statement: A missed opportunity
We've become accustomed to scratching our heads during speeches by politicians, wondering how the policy measures announced can possibly reconcile with the language used. Yesterday was no exception,...
View ArticleThese invisible rabbits will help Osborne balance his books
The first Autumn Statement of a new parliament is a big event in the economic calendar. Yesterday’s statement by George Osborne was made, so we thought, against a difficult background: the latest...
View ArticleOsborne's long-term plan isn’t credible
Yesterday George Osborne delivered what was effectively his fourth budget in under a year. Little wonder that his hour-long presentations from the despatch box are increasingly filled with tiny tweaks...
View ArticleIt's now time to deliver on the tax cut pledge
It's a tried and tested rhetorical technique: when you have bad news, make out that it’s far worse than it actually is. Lower expectations. Create a sense of doom. And then reveal to your neighbours...
View ArticleOsborne has missed every target, says Labour MP
"The fact is the chancellor has missed every target that he’s set himself,” according to Labour MP Helen Goodman on George Osborne’s Autumn Statement. “He can’t keep banging on about what happened...
View ArticleThe verdicts on Osborne’s Autumn Statement
THE BUSINESS GROUP HEAD CAROLYN FAIRBAIRN, CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRY, DIRECTOR-GENERAL The apprenticeship levy will be a big extra payroll tax on employers and widening the net will hit...
View ArticleBuy-to-let surcharge will "hurt tenants, not landlords"
George Osborne's three per cent surcharge on buy-to-let properties will harm tenants rather than landlords, chartered accountant Blick Rothenberg has claimed. Announced as part of yesterday's Autumn...
View ArticleWhat does the Autumn Statement mean for you?
THE SINGLE PARENT CATHERINE GANNON, MANAGING PARTNER OF GANNONS LAW FIRM Gannons Commercial Law continues to perform extremely well as profits and earnings increased on last year. She is commercially...
View ArticleThis Autumn Statement will hurt Scottish business
As we start to pick over the detail of the Autumn Statement it would be easy for many to think the chancellor has pulled the proverbial rabbit out of the hat – although as one journalist put it...
View ArticleFor the devolution revolution to happen, Whitehall has to let go
The chancellor used his Autumn Statement to show that he means business when it comes to devolution. Across the whole policy spectrum, George Osborne spoke about the role of the local as well as the...
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