Business confidence in the UK has collapsed after a month that has seen supply bottlenecks, rising energy prices, fuel shortages and looming tax increases combine to stifle growth. In its latest health check on the economy, the Institute of Directors said sentiment had “fallen off a cliff” in September, adding to fears that Britain was…
Higher NHS spending, stronger investment and a bounce back in exports helped the UK economy to recover more quickly from the lockdown at the start of the year, official figures have shown. After shrinking by 1.4% in the first three months of the year, the economy grew by a record 5.5% in the second quarter…
Bosses from chains including Nando’s, Starbucks and Prezzo have been drafted in to advise the government on its plans to boost the hospitality sector after the easing of lockdown this summer. Amid mounting concern over staff shortages and supplies across the economy, ministers said the group of executives would help to identify and oversee actions…
Labour is not much cop at winning elections. In its entire history, the party has won only five elections with a comfortable majority. The brutal truth is that Labour should be good at opposition because it has plenty of practice at it.
The biggest state intervention in the UK’s labour market in peacetime comes to an end this week when the government finally winds up its furlough support. Barring an unlikely last-minute change of heart, a wage subsidy that has been in place for 18 months and has cost £70bn will no longer be open to struggling…
Back in the financial markets, bitcoin has plunged 7% after China’s central bank intensified its crackdown, by calling all digital currency activities illegal. CNBC has the story: In a Q&A posted to its website, the People’s Bank of China said services offering trading, order matching, token issuance and derivatives for virtual currencies are strictly prohibited.
Australian iron ore producers risk being used as a pawn in Beijing’s geopolitical power play against Canberra, a leading thinktank has warned, amid concerns Chinese demand for the valuable commodity could dry up if the giant Evergrande property group collapses.
Britain’s worst labour market shortages in decades are being driven by employers struggling to recruit low-paid workers, research suggests, while vacancies in other areas are still significantly below pre-pandemic levels.
The Liberal Democrats say the government should consider setting up a Northern Rock-style nationalised energy company to take on the customers of energy firms that go bust. Party leader Sir Ed Davey also called for a massive home insulation programme to help the UK prepare for the next crisis.
On the eve of reshuffling his Alexander’s Ragtime Band of cabinet ministers, the prime minister let it be known that he intended to fight the next election “around Brexit”. No doubt this will have come as interesting news to the growing band of Brexiters who are complaining that it was not meant to be about…