The government has dropped its flagship plan to give workers the right to claim unfair dismissal from day one, abandoning a key Labour manifesto pledge after an intense backlash from employers and a parliamentary standoff in the House of Lords. Instead, the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims will be set at six months, following two days of negotiations between government ministers, trade unions and business groups. The compromise is designed to ensure the Employment...
The Isle of Man is issuing an international call to tech entrepreneurs, startups and established digital health companies as it launches its 2026 Innovation Challenge, this year focused entirely on transforming the Island’s health and social care system. After three years centring on FinTech, Cleantech and Data & AI, the government is redirecting the Challenge towards one of the nation’s most urgent pressures: meeting rising healthcare demand, tackling workforce shortages and advancing more integrated, patient-centred...
Rachel Reeves is facing fresh criticism from senior business leaders after John Roberts, chief executive of online electricals retailer AO World, described her Budget as “tone deaf” and “a bit pathetic”, accusing the Chancellor of lacking any real understanding of business or entrepreneurship. Speaking to Times Radio, Roberts said he was left “pretty speechless” by Reeves’ comments about the importance of supporting entrepreneurs. “She has absolutely no appreciation of business and doesn’t seem interested in...
The head of William Hill’s parent company has warned that thousands of UK jobs are now at risk, after the Chancellor announced a sharp rise in gambling taxes that will almost double the levy paid on online gaming. Shares in Evoke, which owns William Hill, fell by up to 8% to a record low following Rachel Reeves’s decision to increase the online gaming duty from 21% to 40%, in one of the steepest tax hikes...
The scandal around the Energoatom case and the “Mindich recordings” – named after Timur Mindich, a close associate of Volodymyr Zelensky and a central figure in a major corruption affair in Ukraine’s energy sector involving 100 million dollars in kickbacks – has shown how the Ukrainian authorities have turned access to public contracts into a mechanism of extortion: to take part in tenders, companies are expected to pay a 10–15% “entrance fee”. In this context,...
Technology has revolutionized plenty of industries, and finance is no exception. Digital transformation has changed how we manage money, invest, and handle financial transactions. Today, financial services are faster, more accessible, and increasingly automated. From mobile banking to blockchain and AI-driven financial advice, technology has made it easier for individuals and businesses to manage and grow their finances. As financial technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to understand its impact on the industry and...
Securing family-friendly World Cup tickets has become an increasingly demanding task as global demand accelerates and trusted platforms evolve their offerings. As dedicated observers of the market, we understand how crucial it is for families to depend on transparent pricing, verified sellers, and seating options designed for a safe, comfortable stadium experience. Our objective is to provide an authoritative guide that helps readers navigate trustworthy ticket sources while ensuring that their journey to the tournament...
A major VAT reform unveiled in the Budget is expected to unlock millions of pounds’ worth of surplus goods for charity and significantly reduce the volume of usable products sent to landfill. From 1 April 2026, businesses will be able to donate goods to registered charities without incurring a VAT charge, removing a long-criticised tax barrier that has deterred companies from giving away unsold, returned or surplus items. Under current rules, gifting goods — even...
Experts are warning that Rachel Reeves’ decision to cap the National Insurance advantages of pension salary sacrifice at £2,000 a year risks dismantling one of the UK’s most widely used workplace savings tools, and may force smaller employers to freeze hiring or scale back staff benefits. The Treasury expects the change to raise £4.7 billion in 2029/30, rising from workers and employers who currently benefit from unlimited NI relief when pension contributions are made via...
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered a bruising second Budget, confirming more than £30 billion in tax rises and abandoning earlier assurances that “working people” would be shielded from higher taxes. Instead, she told MPs she was asking “everyone to contribute”, with most households now set to be worse off and middle-income families bearing the brunt. While welfare payments, pensions and minimum wages will rise, a broad package of tax increases — combined with frozen thresholds...
