Loan fraud bounces back on builder

Loan fraud bounces back on builder

by | Dec 6, 2023 | News

In case anyone needed confirmation that the Insolvency Service is stepping up action against businesses which have abused the government’s Bounce Back Loan (BBL) Scheme, look no further than the 20  month custodial sentence (suspended for two years) meted out in...
Council crashes magnify the misery of inflation

Council crashes magnify the misery of inflation

by | Nov 28, 2023 | News

Britain’s local councils are going bust – or getting close to it – left, right and centre. Literally, since the parlous state of local government finances is being revealed almost daily in councils controlled by all three major political parties. Early examples of...
Letter from London: Autumn Statement 2023

Letter from London: Autumn Statement 2023

by | Nov 23, 2023 | News

The sands of time are fast draining away towards the date of the next General Election. Arguably only this Autumn Statement and the Budget next March provide a beleaguered government with set-piece economic events that have the potential to change the political...
November 2023 Newsletter: One cheer for lower inflation

November 2023 Newsletter: One cheer for lower inflation

by | Nov 19, 2023 | News

Two cheers would be a stretch, let alone three. Core inflation remains hard to shift, meaning UK interest rate cuts are some way off. The only surprise in October’s fall in the Consumer Prices Index was the size of the decline from 6.7% to 4.6%. It was always going to...
Insolvency storm is a long way from blowing over

Insolvency storm is a long way from blowing over

by | Nov 14, 2023 | News

Soaring interest rates and stubborn inflation forced 2,315 businesses into insolvency in October 2023, up 18% on the same month last year and above pandemic levels. The vast majority (82%) were Creditors Voluntary Liquidations (CVLs) – directors throwing in the towel ...