United Kingdom

    Thousands of contractors and freelancers have become ensnared in a £5.5bn tax grab – aimed initially at wealthy tax dodgers – that allows HM Revenue & Customs to demand backdated taxes to be paid, in full, within a three-month deadline. The allegedly underpaid tax can relate to periods of employment from many years ago. HMRC was handed the powers last year to force wealthy investors accused of using “aggressive tax avoidance” schemes to pay their potential tax liabilities up front, instead of having to chase them through the courts. Previously, HMRC was forced to pursue its missing billions in costly court battles, prompting the Government to approve the legislation in 2014. Millionaire businesspeople and Premier League footballers are now facing tax demands of up to £...

    The Prime Minister's record on defence and foreign affairs has been criticised in the second excerpt of Lord Ashcroft's book, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail. David Cameron has been accused of rank incompetence over his handling of Syria's civil war. According to the new book, former Tory chairman Michael Ancram says Libya is Mr Cameron’s ‘Iraq’. The country now is more dangerous than when the PM decided to topple Colonel Gaddafi, according to Lord Ancram. And Mr Cameron's rocky relationship with his former chief of defence staff, General Sir David Richards is exposed. According to the book, General Richards says he had to tell Mr Cameron that "being in the Combined Cadet Force at Eton" did not qualify him to decide the tactics of complex military operations. A...

    After a warm and settled spell brought blue skies and sunshine to much of the country to-day things are about to go downhill. Forecasters warn two major storms threaten to crash into the UK next week with rain and wind picking up from tomorrow night. Swathes of Britain are on alert for severe gales to unleash 70mph gusts with more than double the normal rainfall forecast. A deep low pressure system will be bolstered by the remnants of Tropical Storm Henri cur-rently charging across the Atlantic. Just days after the Met Office invited the British public to choose autumn storm names next week may see the first getting an airing. Thousands of people took to social media under the hashtag nameourstorms to make sug-gestions ranging from pet names to cultural icons. It appears t...

    Maintenance workers arrive for their night shift at Victoria Underground station in London The number of people working regular night shifts has increased to more than three million since the recession, at a potential cost to their health and family life, new research has disclosed. One in eight of the workforce is now employed while the rest of Britain sleeps, with a particularly steep rise in female staff on antisocial hours. The TUC analysis follows studies suggesting a link between night-time working and increased likelihood of suffering such conditions as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and depression. It called for late-night staff to be given extra rights to protect them from exploitation which could harm their mental and physical health. The report wa...

    More than a third of drivers do not know what the speed limit is on roads, a new study has revealed. A survey of 2,000 UK drivers by the Co-operative Insurance found that 36% could not say what the national limit was on a dual carriageway, while one in eight gave the wrong answer for motorways (70mph for both). A handful of those questioned thought the limit on dual carriageways was 80mph instead of 70mph. Younger drivers were more likely to give the correct answer, while motorists in London had the least awareness of speed limits. Steve Kerrigan of the Co-operative Insurance, said: "These figures show that all too often drivers are getting into their cars and driving with no real awareness of the speed limits in place. "It is interesting that younger drivers - who a...

    Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, has written a letter to NHS trusts, which was leaked to the Telegraph, saying that managers on short-term contracts should not receive more than the pay given to permanent staff Jeremy Hunt has “peddled myths” about doctors’ workloads and demoralised the NHS workforce over plans for more seven-day services, the leader of Britain’s doctors has claimed, as a survey reveals nine out of 10 consultants are already on evening and weekend rotas. Ahead of crunch contract talks, Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA), said the profession was “furious” with the Health Secretary, who told it to “get real” over the need for a “proper seven-day service in hospitals” last month. Using unprecedented language, Dr Porter acc...

    Site where a business jet crashed at a private airport in Hampshire and ploughed into a car auction centre. The sister and stepmother of notorious al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden were reportedly among the dead after a business jet crashed at a private airport in Hampshire and ploughed into a car auction centre. Without confirming the identities of the victims, the Saudi ambassador to Britain, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud, offered condolences on the embassy’s official Twitter account to the Bin Laden family, a prominent Saudi Arabia clan with vast business interests. “His royal highness Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdul Aziz, the ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the United Kingdom, offered his condolences to the sons of the late Mohammed bin...

    Admits to advanced discussions with unnamed suitor in statement following heightened speculation. Pearson has confirmed it is in advanced talks to sell the Financial Times to an unidentified buyer. A spokesman for the company said: "Pearson notes recent press speculation and confirms that it is in advanced discussions regarding the potential disposal of FT Group although there is no certainty that the discussions will lead to a transaction. Quotes in the article "A further announcement will be made if and when appropriate." The stock market statement followed a report by Bloomberg earlier this week that Pearson was exploring a sale, and a Reuters report on Thursday morning claiming an announcement was "imminent". Reuters said a "global, digital news company" was in ...

    A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of a 79-year-old motorist in West Sussex. Donald Lock was stabbed multiple times on the A24 in Findon after his car collided with the rear of another on Thursday night. Armed officers arrested the suspect, from Worthing, at around 2pm on Friday. Video footage showed paramedics treating the grandfather at the side of the road. An air ambulance also landed nearby and the crew took over Mr Lock's treatment, but he died at the scene. Mr Lock's grandson, Ashley Goodlad, posted on Facebook: "He was the kindest, softest and most generous man you could ever wish to meet, it's just so confusing right now just trying to work out an answer for why this has happened." John Lucas, a long-time friend, said ...

    MPs are to get a 10% pay hike to £74,000 despite a 1% cap on the pay of public sector workers. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) announced the move despite fierce opposition from public sector trade unions and some ministers and MPs. David Cameron previously claimed the proposals were "unacceptable," but Downing Street admitted last month the Prime Minister would would not attempt to block the move and would personally accept the money. The increase has been backdated to May 8 and any MP elected before 2015 will also see an increase to their pensions which are linked to their basic salaries. Sir Ian Kennedy, the chairman of IPSA, explained the increase was due MPs salaries previously having been supplemented by "an opaque an discredited system of...