Day: June 30, 2015

    There's growing concern that George Osborne's Emergency Budget will take a sledgehammer to what's known as 'salary sacrifice' schemes. These have been the backbone of thousands of employer childcare and pension schemes, and any changes could leave people hundreds of pounds worse off every year. The problem Osborne faces is that he wants to claw back some of the higher rate tax relief on pensions. There are growing rumours that this is likely to be cut from 45% to 30%. There's not much opposition to this idea, because an estimated 70% of the £34.8 billion claimed in tax relief on pensions is taken by higher or top rate taxpayers. There's a growing sense that the rules unfairly favour the very rich, who could stand to pay a little more tax. Once he reduces the tax relief...

    This week’s heatwave will see temperatures soar to 35C – but Britain may struggle to cope, with health problems and travel disruption anticipated. Vulnerable groups have been advised to try and stay cool amid fears that lives could be at risk, while trains will run slower to guard against tracks buckling in the broiling temperatures. With Wednesday forecast to be the hottest day of the year so far, the elderly, young children and people with breathing difficulties have been told to keep out of the sun and stay hydrated by Public Health England. Dr Angie Bone, from PHE, said there could be more deaths than usual. She said it seemed "likely" that the Met Office would issue a level 3 heatwave alert - which requires community support for at-risk groups, media alerts about...