George Osborne unveils tax breaks for big budget TV
George Osborne has announced tax breaks for big budget TV drama and animation to encourage companies to film productions within the UK.
Dodging the triple dip buys the Prime Minister time
Today's news that a triple dip recession has been averted means very little in economic terms, but politically it is critical.
Cameron backs Osborne over Philpott benefits row
David Cameron has backed Chancellor George Osborne after he linked the Mick Philpott case with the welfare system.
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Bank reforms and tax evasion top G7 agenda
Bank reforms and tax evasion will lead the agenda at a meeting of G7 finance ministers, which is being chaired by George Osborne at a country house in Buckinghamshire.
Future Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney and IMF managing director Christine Lagarde are among those attending the two-day talks.
The IMF, which will soon issue its annual health check of the UK, has already suggested the Chancellor must be more flexible with his deficit-reduction plans.
Mr Osborne conceded prior to this weekend's talks that meetings between the larger G20 group - which includes emerging economic forces like China, India and Brazil - play a greater role in "setting the global rules of the game".
But he insisted the G7 nations - the United States, Germany, Japan, the UK, Italy, France and Canada - still wield "major economic firepower".
Apron-clad George Osborne gets the (cream) teas in
Chancellor George Osborne tweeted a picture of himself helping members of the Women's Institute prepare "a proper English tea" for today's G7 meeting.
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British overseas territories agree deal to curb tax evasion
A deal that commits a fresh wave of so-called tax havens into disclosing the bank details of British taxpayers will be signed today.
Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands have all agreed to automatically share information with the UK in a crackdown on tax evasion.
The British Overseas Territories will pass on names, addresses, dates of birth, account numbers, account balances and payment details and the move also extends to some accounts held by trusts.
They will also share information with other G5 nations - France, Germany, Italy and Spain - as part of an international pilot to clamp down on wealthy banking clients who escape paying taxes by hiding their money overseas.
Chancellor George Osborne said the agreement marked a turning point in the fight against tax evasion.
Poll: Voters think austerity has failed
A majority of the public believe the Government's austerity plan has failed, according to a new poll.
According to the ComRes Survey for The Independent, 58% of people agree the Government's economic plan has failed, while only 31% disagree.
But only slightly more people support Labour's "time for change" message rather than any promise from the Conservatives to continue with their plan to reinvigorate the British economy after the next general election in 2015.
George Osborne unveils tax breaks for big budget TV
George Osborne has announced tax breaks for big budget TV drama and animation to encourage companies to film productions within the UK.
Read the full storyOsborne: Easing austerity policies would risk 'credibility'
Chancellor George Osborne has welcomed today's figures showing 0.3 percent growth, but added that the economy has a long way to go until it is healthy.
Asked if he would consider easing austerity measures in line with advice from the IMF and others, he said it was important not to change course because Britain risked "losing credibility".
Read: Osborne urged by IMF to consider changing austerity plans
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Dodging the triple dip buys the Prime Minister time
Today's news that a triple dip recession has been averted means very little in economic terms, but politically it is critical.
Read the full storyGeorge Osborne: 'We are making progress'
The Treasury have tweeted reaction to the latest GDP figures:
Chancellor:“Today’s figures are an encouraging sign the economy is healing. Despite a tough economic backdrop, we are making progress. (1/4)
From @hmtreasury on Twitter:The deficit is down by a third, businesses have created over a million and a quarter new jobs, and interest rates are at record lows. (2/4)
From @hmtreasury on Twitter:We all know there are no easy answers to problems built up over many years, and I can’t promise the road ahead will always be smooth…(3/4)
From @hmtreasury on Twitter:Finally the Treasury tweeted: "…but by continuing to confront our problems head on, Britain is recovering and we are building an economy fit for the future."
Growth figures better than Osborne could have hoped
by Chris Ship - Deputy Political EditorThe economic figures released today are better than Chancellor George Osborne could have hoped for.
The consensus was that there would be 0.1% growth and he got 0.3%.
Not much sign of this "rebalancing" though, it was the service sector that mainly contributed to today's growth.
The service sector is up by 0.6%, partially offsetting construction which fell by 2.5%.
Poll: Cameron and Osborne have edge over Opposition
The British public are more likely to trust David Cameron and George Osborne to see the country through the current economic situation than Ed Miliband and Ed Balls, according to the latest ITV News Index.
The poll, carried out by ComRes, found that 33% back the Prime Minister and 21% support the Chancellor – but Miliband rates only at 23% and Ed Balls at 17%.
Also of concern to Labour is that there has been little change in the last year over who people blame most for the current financial crisis.
Some 37% blame the last Labour government while 16% accuse the current Coalition – in May 2012, the figures were 37% and 19%.
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