Taking the rise
THE verdict is in on the Jobs Tax — and it’s not good news.
In the first set of figures since the £25billion National Insurance whammy on employers kicked in, unemployment now stands at 4.6 per cent.
GettyToday’s Spending Review is a chance for the Chancellor to reverse some of the damage inflicted by Labour’s job tax[/caption]
Estimates for last month show 109,000 workers wiped from company pay-rolls — the biggest monthly drop since Covid.
Vacancies are also at their lowest since the pandemic.
The ONS bleakly warns: “Some firms may be holding back from recruiting new workers or replacing people when they move on.”
Reality has now bitten, making Sir Keir Starmer’s claims of having fixed the economy look distinctly shaky.
The NI tax rise was always going to be a massive brake on the economy.
If you make it more expensive for employers to employ people they will have to stop doing it.
The costs to businesses from Angela Rayner’s forthcoming Employment Rights Bill could make it worse.
Today’s Spending Review is a chance for the Chancellor to reverse some of the damage.
By unveiling some measures proving growth really is her number one priority.
China crisis
WHY are ministers being so complacent about the obvious threats posed by China’s planned super embassy?
Spooks and MPs are worried about a nest of hostile spies being built in London — close to three major data centres linked by cables carrying highly sensitive financial information.
The US also has grave doubts about the wisdom of handing Beijing such a golden chance to cause havoc in a close ally’s capital.
Its chief concern is the Chinese getting hold of secret shared information.
Given that China already runs secret police stations targeting dissidents in Britain, such fears are justified.
Could the reason for ministers being so relaxed is that it’s already a done deal in return for the paltry £600million trade agreement signed in January?
If so, is that really worth such an enormous risk to national security?
Zero faith
TAXED to the hilt, worried about losing their jobs and struggling to pay soaring bills, it’s no wonder that so many skint Brits are fed up with Net Zero.
Forty per cent now feel actively worse off as a result of the dash to 2050, while just a fifth believe it has led to positive change.
Politicians must understand the current harsh economic reality for so many hard-working families.
Net Zero remains a hugely expensive luxury the country — and ordinary folk — simply can’t afford.
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