In The News Archives | Page 18 Of 24

PM Targets High Spending To Boost Recovery Prospects

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PM Boris Johnson’s strategy is to pursue high levels of spending in order to stimulate a strong recovery, despite warnings from Chancellor Rishi Sunak over the budget deficit. Although it has been a terrible year so far, with more than 54,000 deaths from Covid-19, the latest economic forecasts, due out on Wednesday, will show the … Read more

£3bn Home Grants Scheme Stalls Weeks After Launch

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The process of accreditation is discouraging builders and installers from joining the home grants scheme to improve the energy efficiency of homes in England. Tradesmen are failing to sign up to the Government’s plan to insulate draughty homes, leaving thousands of households unable to apply for the £3bn green home grants. The scheme, offering up … Read more

Self-Employed Warned Of Tax Sting In SEISS Schemes

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SEISS, aka the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, was extended last week to provide ongoing support, although those working for themselves have been warned of the tax implications of the scheme. SEISS was implemented earlier in the year as the impact of the coronavirus, especially of the lockdown, began to be felt by the self-employed. Initially … Read more

Financial Support For Self-Employed ‘Being Considered’

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Support for self-employed during lockdown

As England prepares to enter a second lockdown on Thursday, Michael Gove, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has hinted that the self-employed could be given additional financial support. The support would last for the duration of the new national lockdown and comes after the furlough scheme, which had been due to end in October, was … Read more

SME Housebuilders Forecast Lower Growth

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A majority of SME housebuilders have forecast lower growth due to the pandemic, a new survey by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Close Brothers Property Finance reveals. Overall, 65pc of SME housebuilders have forecast subdued growth. 39pc of these predict business will fall by 10-50pc, while 26pc expect a reduction in the region of … Read more

Banks To End Free Accounts If Rates Turn Negative

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Banks could start charging for basic services if interest rates turn negative, the boss of Virgin Money has warned. CEO David Duffy said, to test which services customers would be willing to pay for, banks would make ‘slow and incremental’ changes over the next three to five years. He added that although a decision will … Read more

Sunak’s New Plan To Protect Firms Forced To Close

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On Friday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced an expansion of the job support scheme to protect workers and firms forced to close during coronavirus lockdowns this winter. The development comes against a background of slowing economic growth, new government restrictions and increasing job losses as the first furlough scheme is about to come to an end, … Read more

10pm Curfew ‘Last Straw’ For Hospitality Sector

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The hospitality industry feels it has been left high and dry by No 10, as takings plunge following the imposition of a counterproductive curfew. Sales at pubs, bars and restaurants fell by more than one third compared to the same period last year after a 10pm coronavirus curfew was implemented across most of the UK, … Read more

BoE Adviser Defends Negative Interest Rates

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A policymaker at the Bank of England has upheld the possible use of negative interest rates, which could lower the cost of borrowing to below zero. As countries are forced to use extreme measures to keep their economies afloat in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bank of England has signalled that it may … Read more

UK SMEs Win Victory In Covid Insurance Test Case

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Hundreds of thousands of small firms forced to close during the Covid-19 pandemic will receive payouts on insurance claims following a high court judgment in the test case brought by the City regulator. According to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), around 370,000 small companies are affected by the judgment and should hear from their insurer … Read more