Jeremy Hunt Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

More than two years since the cost of living crisis began to bite, families are still facing tough decisions about their money. While inflation may have slowed down from its fiercest spike, bills are still on the rise.

Rishi Sunak has hinted at further cuts to national insurance in next week's Spring Budget.

UK Music, which is the collective voice of the UK music industry, has urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to cut VAT in the spring Budget to throw the sector a “vital lifeline” and save venues that are threatened by closure.Tom Kiehl, UK Music’s Interim Chief Executive, has asked Hunt to use his Budget next Wednesday (March 6) to lower the current 20 per cent VAT rate on tickets to 10 per cent as a “boost for consumers, music professionals and venues”.The request to slash VAT is among the recommendations that UK Music has made to the Government in its Budget submission, which outlines the support the sector needs to grow (read it in full here).Currently, music fans in the UK must pay 20 per cent VAT on their tickets – almost double the EU average (10.3 per cent) and around triple the rate in countries like Belgium (six per cent) and Germany (seven per cent). ‌ The 20 per cent rate is the third highest rate of cultural ticketing in Europe. Gig-goers pay more tax on UK tickets than anywhere else in Europe, except Denmark and Lithuania.The calls come amid growing concerns for the future of grassroots venues.

Millions of motorists facing increasing prices at the pump could benefit from a key decision waiting on the desk of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of his budget for the next fiscal year - whether or not to keep a decade of fuel duty freezes.

UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been told to use his forthcoming Spring budget to make an “urgent intervention” to support the UK indie film sector in a letter published by Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the influential Culture, Media and Sport Committee. 

The People’s Forum on the channel on February 12, answering questions from a live audience, with many complaining that no alternative point of view was offered during the broadcast.In a statement, Ofcom said: “We have received around 500 complaints about the programme which aired on GB News.“We are investigating under Rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the Broadcasting Code which provide additional due impartiality requirements for programmes dealing with matters of major political controversy and major matters relating to current public policy.“Specifically, Rules 5.11 and 5.12 require that an appropriately wide range of significant views must be included and given due weight in such programmes, or in clearly linked and timely programmes.”The presenter Stephen Dixon said during the show that the questions were being posed by undecided voters, and that they had not been seen in advance, either by GB News or by Sunak.An official spokesperson for Sunak said that the prime minister has no regrets about his appearance on the show and that “this is a matter for Ofcom”.Ofcom, which sets the rules by which broadcasters must abide, does not insist that equal time is given to opposing political views, but does say that audiences must be exposed to alternative ways of thinking.GB News has been found to have fallen foul of Ofcom rules in the past, including when Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was interviewed by fellow Conservative MPs Esther McVey and Philip Davies about his Autumn Statement.The channel’s policy of allowing active political figures to host shows, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson, is also contentious.

Millions of older people in receipt of the New or Basic State Pension are set for a significant boost this year after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed that payments will rise by 8.5 per cent from April 8, 2024. This means that someone on the full New State Pension will see payments go up from £203.85 per week to £221.20 and as payments are typically made every four weeks, this amounts to £884.80 each pay period.

Jeremy Hunt has said the upcoming Spring Budget will focus on "prioritising economic growth" as he hinted that further tax cuts could be announced on March 6.

Millions of tax credit claimants will soon receive the £299 cost of living payment.

Rishi Sunak paid more than half a million pounds in UK tax last year.

Andy Burnham has backed calls for a VAT cut for pubs, restaurants and clubs. The Greater Manchester mayor told an audience at the Night Time Economy Summit on Thursday (February 8) that he wants VAT to be reduced to 10 per cent for the hospitality industry.

Martin Lewis has pointed out the "gross unfairness" of the current child benefit system.

Many Brits will be receiving their first paycheck of the new year in the coming days.

Millions of employees are set for a boost in their take-home pay from this month after the main rate of class 1 National Insurance (NI) deductions was cut from 12 per cent to 10 per cent on Saturday, January 6. The change will mean an average worker on a salary of £35,400 will get a tax cut of more than £450 in 2024/25, while an employee earning £50,000 will pay £3,743 in National Insurance after the change, saving about £749.

Millions of older people in receipt of the New or Basic State Pension are set for another significant increase this year after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed that payments will rise by 8.5 per cent from April 8, 2024. This means that someone on the full New State Pension will see payments go up from £203.85 per week to £221.20 and as payments are typically made every four weeks, this amounts to £884.80 each pay period.

A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to remove income tax on the State Pension to “reduce the tax burden on pensioners”. The personal tax allowance threshold will remain frozen at £12,570 during the 2024/25 financial year, which means that older people with an income of more than £242 per week may have to pay income tax.

Nearly 1.5 million older people with a long-term health condition claiming Attendance Allowance are set for a significant income boost in April following confirmation from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt that benefits will rise in line with the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure of 6.7 per cent. During the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor also announced that the State Pension will increase by 8.5 per cent - the earnings growth measure of the Triple Lock policy.

Cuts to national insurance will see millions of workers earn more money on their paycheck, according to the government.

The survey from YouGov and the Portman Group has shone a light on changing attitudes to alcohol among members of Gen Z, with 39 per cent of 18-to-24s not drinking alcohol at all.44 per cent of “the most sober age group” consider themselves either an occasional or regular drinker of 0 per cent alcohol alternatives – a 13 per cent rise on numbers from 2022.23 per cent of those surveyed said that choosing low or no alcohol drinks lowered their overall intake of alcohol.Portman Group chief executive Matt Lambert said: “It is welcome to see a further rise in the popularity of low and no-alcohol alternatives as well as further evidence of how they are an important tool to help UK drinkers, particularly younger adults, to drink responsibly.“The availability of alcohol alternatives has never been more abundant and we eagerly await the outcome of the recent UK government consultation on low-alcohol descriptors, which we hope will further facilitate the growth of the UK low and no-alcohol market.”A survey conducted last year also revealed that 43 per cent of Gen Z would give up alcohol for six months for a chance to be front row at their favourite concert.The figures come after the UK nightlife industry expressed their anger over increased increased alcohol duty and drink prices in the UK last year.Tax hikes of up to 20 per cent were enforced under a plan brought in by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt from last August.The move has been strongly condemned by the Night Time Industries Association, which claims that the “planned alcohol duty increase today threatens to inflict severe damage on an already struggling industry that plays a crucial role in our nation’s economy and cultural vitality”.2023 also saw DF

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s National Insurance (NI) cuts, which come into effect this weekend, offer an immediate and welcome boost to take-home pay for an estimated 27 million employees across the country. However, as the dust settles on this Autumn Statement decision, Aegon’s Pension Director Steven Cameron has flagged potential implications for individual finances and the future funding of the State Pension and current Triple Lock policy.

Sainsbury's will increase the hourly wage of 120,000 staff members as part of a £200 million investment.

Millions of workers will see a cut to their National Insurance obligations this week.

Period pants should be cheaper from this week as new rules scrapping VAT on the products come into play.

Nearly 1.5 million older people with a long-term health condition claiming Attendance Allowance are set for a significant income boost next April following confirmation from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt that benefits will rise in line with the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure of 6.7 per cent. During the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor also announced that State Pensions will increase by 8.5 per cent - the earnings growth measure of the Triple Lock policy.

Millions of people on disability benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance will see their payments rise by 6.7 per cent next April after the uprating was confirmed by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt during the recent Autumn Statement.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published the proposed new weekly payment rates for people claiming Child Benefit or Guardian’s Allowance, which will come into effect next April. The guidance was published on GOV.UK following Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s announcement at the Autumn Statement that State Pensions will rise by 8.5 per cent (triple Lock earnings growth) and benefits will increase by 6.7 per cent (September inflation rate).

UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt wants North East England to get in on the all-consuming Barbie hype. 

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a series of new measures to reward people in work, help make work pay, and reform the welfare system, during the Autumn Statement on Wednesday. The measures aim to build on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) new ‘Back to Work’ plan, which focuses on helping disabled people and those with long-term health conditions who have difficulties finding employment to overcome barriers to secure and stay in work.

Martin Lewis has issued a warning to billpayers that their bills are set to skyrocket.

There was some good news for Greater Manchester in the autumn statement today (November 22), but local leaders have warned that many people will still face a difficult winter. Jeremy Hunt announced changes to pensions, benefits and national insurance in his speech this afternoon, telling MPs the country has 'turned a corner' after a turbulent time which saw some 'difficult decisions' made.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his autumn statement that National Insurance will be slashed in the New Year.

Millions of people on Universal Credit will see their monthly benefit payments increase next year. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his autumn statement on Wednesday that benefits will rise by September’s inflation figure of 6.7% from April 2024.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt made some major announcements as part of today's autumn statement which will affect millions receiving Universal Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Jeremy Hunt confirmed controversial plans to shake up the welfare system in his autumn statement. The chancellor said claimants who fail to find a job could have their benefits cut completely, while people on long-term sick leave would be asked to find remote working jobs.

The UK government has used its Autumn Statement to quell industry concerns around the new tax credit but declines to raise relief for indie film, while Equity has slammed the Conservatives for “undermining public service broadcasters and pursuing a culture war against marginalised groups.”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his autumn statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday (November 22) saying the country's economy is "back on track".