News

Taxes up, spending up – It’s Reeves’s gig gamble

Published

4 hours ago

October 30, 2024

THE HEADLINE from today’s Budget is a £40bn increase in taxes.

However, those tax increases are aimed at wealth, investment income, and businesses rather than standard-rate income taxpayers.

For the latter, the minimum wage rose, the price of draught beer was cut, the freeze in income tax thresholds will end, fuel duty will not rise, and the government is forecast to pump £70bn into public services and national infrastructure.

For small businesses, the Chancellor promised to “permanently lower business rate multiplies” for retail and hospitality businesses, cutting the amount of money High Street business pay in rates.

However, the Chancellor giveth and the Chancellor taketh away.

Rachel Reeves said that the employers’ NI rate will increase to 15 per cent from April next year.

In addition, the threshold at which employers start paying NI on each employee’s salary will drop from £9,100 to £5,000.

Those decisions represent a massive tax raid with massive potential impacts on prices (up), wages (lower), and hiring decisions.

Ms Reeves said that the increase in the employers’ NI rate, combined with the lowering of thresholds, would raise £25m for public services.

However, she sugared the pill, also announcing the employment allowance will rise from £5,000 to £10,500.

The Chancellor said: “This means 865,000 employers won’t pay any national insurance at all next year, and over one million will pay the same or less than they did previously.

“This will allow a small business to employ the equivalent of four full-time workers on the national living wage without paying any national insurance on their wages.”

The Chancellor also targeted wealth and inherited wealth.

Inherited pensions, formerly exempt from Inheritance Tax, will be subject to it. The threshold will be frozen (effectively, a rise). The Chancellor reintroduced the cap on lifetime pension pots, which was introduced and then scrapped under the Conservatives.

Farmers leaving estates worth over £1m will be subject to 20% in inheritance tax. Capital Gains Tax on shares and dividend income (unearned income) will rise from 10% to 18% for standard-income taxpayers and to 24% for higher-rate income taxpayers.

For those at the upper edges of income, there was even more bad news. The Chancellor announced the abolition of Non-Dom tax status, which allows the wealthy to duck tax on their income by claiming to be based abroad. That is unlikely to hit many taxpayers, but closing the Non-Dom loophole is an important symbolic act.

Rachel Reeves’s big gamble is that, by frontloading tax increases, there will be no need for substantial future tax rises for the next three years or so. Having boxed herself in on employee NI and income tax, Rachel Reeves left herself limited room for manoeuvre, making tax rises essential if she was to balance the books and fund unaccounted-for expenditures. As examples of the foregoing, Ms Reeves revealed that although the previous government announced compensation schemes for Post Office employees and postmasters and the victims of the contaminated blood scandal, it had not budgeted for funding them and – as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott confirmed afterwards, had no intention of standing by the public sector pay awards it announced at the Budget in March.

The second gamble is that injecting money into capital infrastructure projects will drive forward growth and economic activity. If that happens, it will buck a two-decade-long trend of stagnation and industrial failure. If that works, Labour will reap the benefits; if it doesn’t, and if public services do not improve markedly, Labour will suffer.

Crime

Coroners inquest opened and adjourned following death of schoolgirl, 12

Published

2 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKSHIRE coroner has opened an inquest into the tragic death of Honey Foxx French, 12, from Hakin – who died after emergency services were called to a home on Saturday (Oct 19).

Pembrokeshire assistant coroner Gareth Lewis opened an inquest into the 12-year-old’s death on Wednesday (Oct 30).

The coroner adjourned the inquest until April 10, 2025, to allow for further investigation. He extended his condolences to Honey’s family and friends.

Dyfed-Powys Police have stated that her death is not being treated as suspicious.

In a joint statement, Honey’s school, Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, and Pembrokeshire County Council described her as “much loved and cherished.”

“Honey French was a beloved member of our school community at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA. She was a talented performer and writer who generously shared her humour, time, and talents with our school family and the wider community – she will be deeply missed. Our love, thoughts, and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.”

The police have launched a full investigation, with inquiries ongoing.

Business

Number of Welsh companies with unpaid bills hits 2024 high

Published

5 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE NUMBER of Welsh companies with overdue invoices on their books reached a 2024 high in September, according to new research from R3, the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body.

R3’s analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows that 18,360 Welsh businesses had unpaid invoices on their books last month – the highest monthly total of the year so far.

The number of Welsh firms with overdue invoices on their books rose by 3.7% in September 2024 when compared to September 2023’s total of 17,709.

Bethan Evans, Interim Chair of R3 in Wales, says: “The rise in businesses failing to pay their bills on time is a clear sign that economic recovery in Wales is still fragile.

“While some sectors may be bouncing back, many firms are still grappling with the ongoing effects of rising costs, wage pressures, and reduced consumer spending, which is making it harder for them to manage their cash flow effectively.”

The number of overdue invoices in Wales also reached a 2024 high in September, with a total 145,687 recorded. This is a slight yearly rise of 0.3% when compared to September 2023’s total of 145,273.

Bethan, who is a partner at Menzies LLP, continues: “Wales’s business debt burden has crept up every month since March and this is creating a growing financial pressure for businesses.

“Without a consistent improvement in payment practices or cash flow, many companies may find it increasingly difficult to manage their debt and maintain operations, and we could see more and more businesses in Wales turning to a formal insolvency solution as a result.

“I would urge business owners and directors that are seeing their debt levels rise to seek advice as soon as they can from a qualified professional. Most R3 members in Wales will be happy to provide a free initial consultation so you can explain the challenges you’re facing, and help you understand the best course of action for you and your business.”

News

HM Coastguard warning: ‘Do not use marine flares as fireworks’

Published

6 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AS Bonfire Night approaches, HM Coastguard has issued a warning to the public, reminding them that marine flares must only be used in genuine distress situations and not as entertainment.

“Marine flares are for emergencies only,” HM Coastguard stressed. “If we receive an alert at or near the coast involving a flare, our teams will respond without knowing whether it’s a real emergency or a firework display.” They warn that such misuse could tie up valuable rescue resources and put coastguard teams at unnecessary risk, potentially diverting them from responding to a genuine emergency.

The Coastguard urges the public: “Please, DO NOT use flares as fireworks, as they can easily be mistaken for a distress signal.”

In any coastal emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.