“UK economy teeters on recession following revised ONS figures”

Jan 3, 2024 | Economy, Inflation

An independent (financial adviser’s) view

Some cheery, pre-Christmas news, lost in the myriad of other happy, seasonal stuff. According to the Office for National Statistics, our economy has continued to shrink and if this shrinking continues, we’ll be officially recessed. All very necessary for control of the demon inflation, and only a problem, certainly in J Hunt and others’ minds, I’m sure, if voters start hurting before they vote. My guess (and bear in mind I’m useless at prediction) is that we’ll be saved by a teensy-teensy cut in interest rates in the nick of time. And, of course, our ability to Reconnect to the Rest of the World. Sorry, but I really haven’t mentioned it for ages, have I?

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“Rachel Reeves may be forced to raise taxes”

“Rachel Reeves may be forced to raise taxes”

Why did she/they (in the old sense) think that tinkering around with IHT and CGT would be enough to sort out the NHS; and the potholes; and…and the list goes on. My guess is  that they asked the Treasury for a list of anything not involving income tax that they could get away with lightly, although they should already have learned from the winter fuel stuff that all publicity is not good publicity.