Rishi Sunak is drawing up plans to boost support for first-time home buyers, as a key plank of the Conservatives’ campaign for a fifth term in office.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Lloyds Bank orders staff to return to the office ‘at least’ two days a week
Hybrid workers will have to spend at least two days a week in the office, Lloyds Banking Group has told staff, with “card swipe data” used to monitor their return.
Natwest customers withdraw £1bn as cost of living and tax bills bite
Natwest has beaten profit expectations during the first three months of this year.
Over 50s and retirees want to work more, so long as it’s flexible
A lack of flexible job opportunities is keeping over 50s out of the workforce and preventing retirees from returning to employment according to a survey.
UK to avoid recession but inflation won’t return to Bank of England target until end of next year
Britain is poised to dodge a recession this year, but inflation will not return to the Bank of England’s two per cent target until the end of next year, new forecasts out last night revealed.
Wikipedia will not perform Online Safety Bill age checks
Wikipedia will not comply with any age checks required under the Online Safety Bill, its foundation says.
UK failing to honour net zero farming pledges, report finds
The UK government’s pledges on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farming and land use fall short of promises made in its net zero strategy, analysis has found.
Carmakers recover ground in first three month of the year with rising exports to EU
The number of cars built in the first three months of the year rose by 6 per cent, but the overall volume of vehicles produced remains lower than before the pandemic.
Business confidence at highest for a year
Business confidence reached its highest level since May last year as bosses become more optimistic about the wider economy, a new survey has found.
Far fewer EU laws to be scrapped than planned
Ministers are to dramatically scale back the number of EU laws to be scrapped by the end of the year as part of Rishi Sunak’s bonfire of Brussels rules and regulations.
Consultation launched into double-taxation of IR35
News that the government has launched a consultation to address the ‘double taxation’ of IR35 under the off-payroll working rules has been universally welcomed.
New dates for industrial action announced by Aslef – including on FA Cup final date
Three days of train strikes have been announced by Aslef – including on the day of the FA Cup final.
King’s Coronation set to generate £2.6bn for UK hospitality
The bank holiday for the King’s Coronation promises to be a bumper weekend for the UK hospitality industry.
Netflix doubles down on UK productions despite slowdown
Netflix has spent $6bn (£4.8bn) making TV shows and films in the UK since 2020, $2bn more than originally planned, as the streaming giant doubled down on must-watch content amid a global slowdown in new subscribers.
Train operators and union leaders criticise draft UK strike laws
Plans for minimum service levels during rail strikes could worsen industrial relations and outcomes for passengers, train operators have told MPs, while unions said the proposed laws were a “recipe for disaster”.
