Politics and Economics
Politics and Economics news from across the web
Britain warned of economy downgrade
Independent: Chancellor George Osborne was issued a pre-Budget warning by an influential credit rating agency last night as it issued a “negative” outlook on the prospects of the UK economy retaining its AAA rating.
George Osborne budget plan could mean never having to pay his debts
Guardian: New government bonds would lock in current low borrowing rates for extended length of 100 years or into perpetuity.
Prudential warns new rules may force it to move from UK
BBC News: The insurer Prudential fears tighter rules on the amount of capital it must hold may force it to move its headquarters out of the UK.
Eurozone group backs second Greek bailout
BBC News: The eurozone group has backed Greece’s second bailout of 130bn euros ($171bn; £109bn) pending a contribution from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
OECD survey suggests boost for economy
Independent:Hopes that the UK might dodge another recession were boosted today as an influential forecaster revealed a positive shift in economic?activity at the start of the year.
£4.2bn budget plea to boost growth
Express: A leading business group has called for a £4.2 billion Budget boost to help firms drive economic growth and create jobs, including help to recruit unemployed youngsters.
Jobless figures dim hopes of private sector-led recovery
Independent: The Chancellor seeks new ways to stimulate employment in areas heavily dependent on state
Business confidence on the up, say bosses
Telegraph: George Osborne has received a welcome boost ahead of this month’s Budget as it emerged that confidence among Britain’s small businesses has risen for the first time in a year.
Campaigners urge EC to reconsider pension plans
FT Adviser: The European Commission is being urged to rethink pension regulation, which campaigners claim would impose an unreasonable burden on UK defined benefit pension schemes.
Interest rates mark three years at 0.5%
Guardian: Britain has entered a fourth year of record low interest rates following the Bank of England’s decision to hold borrowing costs
Tories stand firm over Lib-Dem ‘double-tax’ plan for pensions
Flanders: Quantitative easing for whom?
Greece on brink of default as bond deal falters
Ratings agencies still refuse to say sorry for helping to cause the financial crisis
MPS call for eurozone collapse plan
King may face renewed BOE policy maker rift as inflation dispute simmers
Recession looms as investors cut back
Brazil 'overtakes UK's economy'
Budget 2012: Give us a growth plan, EEF tells Chancellor George Osborne
Services sector wobble pressures Bank to up QE
In Depth
The new kings and queens
Charlotte Moore asks whether emerging market investments are set to dominate in the future or if developed markets are safer funding destinations
Politics and economics: Our Views
Pension funds' waning influence laid bare
Kay Review finds funds are no longer the power in the land they once were, writes David Prosser
Briefing paper: Autumn chill
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement revealed ongoing pain for pensions – but it will not be spread evenly
Following the shadow
Louise Ashford meets Gregg McClymont, the new shadow pensions minister
Strike out?
Unions must meet government halfway in negotiations over public sector pension reform
The Euro veto
Cameron’s use of the UK’s veto in Europe was a sideshow which detracted from the real problems afflicting the Eurozone
Bailing out Europe - a bazooka or an atom bomb?
Europe’s leaders must consider the ‘nuclear option’ if the Eurozone is to survive
Do not mis-use solvency
The European pensions regulator’s call for advice on reviewing the IORP Directive requires key stakeholders to make their voices heard
Once more unto the breach
Quantitative Easing 2 will help prevent another recession, but at a high price
Aiming too high?
Does auto-enrolment need rescuing before it even starts? According to a wide range of opinions expressed by the pensions industry at the Tory Party conference the answer is, resoundingly, yes
