Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet is united behind plans to dramatically scale back the winter fuel allowance, Downing Street has insisted amid mounting calls, including within Labour ranks, for the Government to soften the policy. Ministers are “agreed” on the importance of “fixing the foundations of the economy” by taking toughContinue Reading
Hostmore has said it has dropped plans to buy TGI Fridays in the US for £177 million, leading its shares to tank by more than 90%. The deal was set to see Hostmore, which runs 87 restaurants in the UK, merge with US-based TGI Fridays Inc, to create a largerContinue Reading
Over a million low-paid workers in the UK are set to receive a wage increase of about 6% next year, as the government pledges to raise the national living wage to £12.10 an hour. The Low Pay Commission, following Labour’s directive to ensure a “genuine living wage,” has outlined plansContinue Reading
Councils across England, Scotland and Wales have a collective hole in their finances amounting to more than £4 billion for the coming financial year, threatening fresh cuts to services, new research suggests. Unison said the shortfall was “way beyond” any previous estimates, warning that council funding was in a direContinue Reading
Unions are planning to work closely with the new Government to rebuild the country after 14 years of Tory “chaos”, according to the leader of the TUC. General secretary Paul Nowak will say on Monday that the trade union movement stands ready to help ministers deliver for workers. In aContinue Reading
The UK’s services sector has benefited from a later summer tourism boost, but the jobs market faced its worst month in more than a decade, according to new analysis. Businesses across sectors from hospitality and to financial services and real estate have enjoyed greater levels of spending since the generalContinue Reading
The Government’s plans to strengthen workers’ rights has won fresh support from managers as a union leader highlighted the positive benefits of halting a “race to the bottom” in the world of work. The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) said there was nothing in Labour’s proposals that should alarm a responsible employer.Continue Reading
Former housing secretary Michael Gove has said criminal prosecutions should be brought against Grenfell Tower cladding firms. Companies that are “still making vast profits without acknowledging their full responsibility” must also be punished financially, he suggested. Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Gove claimed attempts to punish Kingspan, Arconic andContinue Reading
Santander has tightened its hybrid working policy, instructing its UK office-based staff to work the equivalent of three days a week at its offices. In a recent update to 10,000 employees, the Spanish-owned bank announced that its current policy of allowing staff to work two days a week at oneContinue Reading
Google has been accused by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) of abusing its dominance in the online advertising market, allegedly overcharging publishers and stifling competition. The CMA issued a statement of objections to the tech giant on Friday, following an investigation that suggested Google’s actions may be illegal.Continue Reading
