Economists hit back at Cable post-Brexit financial services regulation fears
The government is looking at freeing up pensions funds to invest via changes to Solvency II regulations and has given the financial regulator a mandate to consider growth in its decisions. Gerard Lyons, from the Centre for Policy Studies, said “the areas in which the UK is looking to diverge will enhance its and the… View Article
‘Don’t be like America’ Leading pollster warns cultures wars WILL destroy Britain
Dr Frank Luntz, whose political insights helped George W. Bush and David Cameron win power on either side of the Atlantic, delivered a stunning lecture where he said the twin evils of wokeism on the left and populism on the right are destroying democracy in the US. He likened wokeism to coranvirus infecting the country… View Article
Ditch peak fares and introduce Rail Miles for train passengers, Grant Shapps urged
The Centre for Policy Studies has warned “there is no going back to the old world” despite taxpayers paying £16bn to keep trains running during coronavirus. The centre-right think tank said a simpler, fairer and more flexible ticketing system – with peak fares scrapped – is required as part of measures to avoid a spiral… View Article
WFH surge saw the number of people commuting five days a week fall to just 15 per cent of pre-pandemic levels
Total commuter journeys fell to just 45 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, and only 41 per cent into London, according to analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS). But five-day-a-week, peak-hour commuting has taken the hardest hit – with levels down by 85 per cent compared to pre-Covid levels, the think-tank said. The data is… View Article
Rail could cost £6bn per year without government reform
An analysis by UK think tank Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) argued that without a complete makeover, the network will fall into a decline and underinvestment scenario that could force the government to either increase income tax or cut services to revive it. “The pandemic fundamentally changed the nature of rail in the UK,” said… View Article
Green quango blocks housing developments across Britain
Speaking at a conference organised by the Centre for Policy Studies, Ben Houchen, mayor of the Tees Valley combined authority, said: “Natural England literally three weeks ago without any consultation just decided to slap on nutrient neutrality as a requirement for any approval of housing, which now means that all five local authority areas that cover… View Article
Holi-yay boost for Brits as B&Bs could finally be able to offer money-saving deals amid end to restrictive EU laws
British B&Bs could be cut loose from EU laws hindering them offering package deals – as Jacob Rees-Mogg plans to light a bonfire of red tape. Earlier this year he urged Sun readers to write to him with which rules they want ditched – and they have been taking up the offer in droves. Yesterday told an… View Article
Brexit Britain’s bonfire of red tape held back by ‘huge cost’ of net zero
Speaking at an event organised by the Centre for Policy Studies, Mr Rees-Mogg warned of the “huge regulatory cost”. He said: “Net zero is going to be a huge regulatory cost and that is an issue for the country to face and to face up to. “If we were to have a ‘one in, one… View Article
Jacob Rees-Mogg warns over ‘huge cost’ of net zero drive
The “huge regulatory cost” of Boris Johnson’s drive for net zero will hold back plans for a post-Brexit bonfire of red tape, Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned. Speaking at an event organised by the Centre for Policy Studies, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “Net zero is going to be a huge regulatory cost and that is an issue for the… View Article
New energy strategy could take half a decade to reduce bills
This energy security strategy is the fifth energy policy announcement in a long line of energy policy announcements. We need the Government to start delivering. Ministers must urgently explain how they plan to speed up the delivery of their promises instead of just launching yet another policy.” Robert Colvile, director of centre-right think tank the… View Article
National Insurance threshold raised by £3k
The National Insurance threshold has been lifted by £3,000 to equalise it with income tax, the chancellor announced in the spring statement today (March 23). Earlier this month, the Centre for Policy Studies called on the government to raise the threshold to mitigate the impact from the planned tax hike on the poorest households. It said… View Article
Govt urged to raise NI threshold to soften tax blow
The Centre for Policy Studies has called on the government to raise the employee threshold for paying National Insurance to mitigate the impact from the planned tax hike on the poorest households. The think tank said raising the employee threshold to £11,284, instead of the planned £9,880, would shield those on average and lower incomes from… View Article
Chancellor considering plans to wipe out National Insurance rise for lowest paid workers
Rishi Sunak is considering plans to wipe out the National Insurance (NI) tax rise for lower paid workers. The Chancellor could ease the pressure of the 1.25 per cent NI hike by raising the thresholds at which people start to pay the tax. Depending on where he sets the threshold, it could allow him to declare… View Article
Shield exports from tax to boost Global Britain and small business
Shielding spending on ramping up exports from taxes will unlock a well of economic growth by boosting engagement with trade among Britain’s small businesses, a new report recommends today. Allowing firms to cut their tax bills by offsetting investment in exports would strengthen incentives for small firms to participate in trade, according to the Centre… View Article
PM gets on with delivering bold Brexit benefits as he announces new bill to fuel economy
Other changes, including digitising trade documents, are proposed to save billions of pounds for firms. But Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies, has called for more detail, saying: “The £1 billion target for cutting post-Brexit regulation is headline-grabbing but relatively unambitious”. “We need more detail on what will replace the current system… View Article
Government should avoid NI rise during cost of living crisis, experts warn
The Government should not be raising national insurance during the cost of living crisis, economists have told MPs Giving evidence to the Treasury Select Committee, Tom Clougherty, from the Centre for Policy Studies, said it was “extremely perverse” to raise the tax currently and it should be delayed. He also said he did not believe that the… View Article
