On Monday 11 January 2016, the Home Office launched a new visa scheme for Chinese nationals wishing to travel to the UK. Continue reading “New Visa System for Chinese Nationals”
Category: Latest News
Spending Review – What you Need to Know
Osborne’s first Autumn Spending Review under a completely Conservative government took place yesterday. Rafts of measures were introduced with some surprising results. The total government spending is set to rise from £756 billion this year to £821 billion in 2020. While at the same time, government spending as a percentage of output will fall from 40% (2010) to 36.5% in 2020. In the next five years the government will borrow £8 billion less than originally predicted in July. George Osbourne put this down to better tax receipts and lower interest payments on debt. Many supporters of the spending review highlight this as the ‘end of austerity’. Continue reading “Spending Review – What you Need to Know”
Pros and Cons of Britain Leaving the European Union
David Cameron, on the 10th of November 2015, sent a letter to the president of the European Council – Donald Tusk – aiming to negotiate Britain’s position within the European Union. Continue reading “Pros and Cons of Britain Leaving the European Union”
UK Surveillance Bill – Is Big Brother Watching?
Theresa May admitted in the House of Commons, on the 4th of October 2015, that the UK had been operating mass domestic surveillance since the ‘1984 Telecommunications Act’. The irony of course, is that ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ is the title of George Orwell’s dystopian future novel which hinges upon the governmental surveillance of British civilians (or Airstrip One – as the book calls it). An irony Edward Snowdown also couldn’t help but enjoy. But could this be as bad as the literary classic predicted? Continue reading “UK Surveillance Bill – Is Big Brother Watching?”
What Contributory Pension Regulations mean for Employers/Employees.
The 2015 Budget laid out significant changes to UK workplace pensions. The new contributory pension regulations require (over the next few years) employers to provide a workplace pension scheme to all their employees (who meet the criteria). There has also been the introduction of the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) which is centred upon ‘auto-enrolment’. Continue reading “What Contributory Pension Regulations mean for Employers/Employees.”
Five Dangers of Employees Bringing in their Own Devices
Bring your own device (BYOD) schemes are being introduced across the country as a result of the benefits and advantages they bring to both employers and employees. However there are inherent risks that both parties should be aware of. This article briefly outlines – what we perceive to be – the 5 main dangers of a BYOD scheme. Continue reading “Five Dangers of Employees Bringing in their Own Devices”
The Judiciary: a Man’s Game?
Currently women make up only 1 out of 12 Supreme Court judges, none of the Heads of Division, only 21% of Court of Appeal Judges and a mere 19% of High Court Judges. Those are the statistics that fuel the growing sentiment that the Judiciary is a ‘men’s game’. Continue reading “The Judiciary: a Man’s Game?”
Aston Bond Awarded Legal 500 Status!
We’re incredibly proud of our recent recommendations in the prestigious Legal 500 publication. Aston Bond has been ranked as a Top Tier Law Firm in the South East. Continue reading “Aston Bond Awarded Legal 500 Status!”
You’re paying more tax than Facebook
Social media giants Facebook are reported, by the Sunday Times, to have paid just £4,327 in corporation tax to the UK government in 2014.
The average UK worker, who receives a salary of £26,500, will pay £5,392.90 in income tax and national insurance. Yes you read that correctly; the multi-national corporation with global profits of over £1.4 billion pay less tax to the UK government than the average UK working citizen. Continue reading “You’re paying more tax than Facebook”
National Living Wage could the British people be worse Off?
George Osbourne announced the plan for a ‘national living wage’ in the UK during his Budget speech in July 2015. An hourly minimum wage of £9 will be enforced by 2020. Continue reading “National Living Wage could the British people be worse Off?”