Growth, growth, growth (of the economic variety), is it happening, if not, why not, will doubtless be a continuing theme and/or battleground in the months and years ahead. Here’s a timely reminder from our friends at 7IM, of one of the reasons it’s been lacking. A study compared two cities of similar sizes, Leeds and Marseilles, to try to find out why the French city has consistently been 25% more productive than our own Yorkshire powerhouse. Their conclusion, it’s much easier to get to work in Marseilles. 87% or the population there can get to the city centre in under 30 minutes, in Leeds it’s only 38%. And apparently that’s the same for most, in the UK on average 40%, in Europe 67% can get to work easily. So it’s infrastructure, dear boy; and building rather than cutting.
“Reeves backs down on plans to cut ISA limit”
So it looks as though Cash ISAs are safe for the moment (FTM – is that a thing?) Rachel has apparently ‘bowed to pressure’ from the banks and building societies and decided not to reduce the allowance to £4,000 for cash and to keep the £20,000 parity with Stocks and Shares ISAs. Bowed also to common sense, I’d say.
