UK businesses face a big tax hike. So what does it mean for workers and the economy?

By Phil Tomlinson, Professor of Industrial Strategy, Co-Director Centre for Governance, Regulation and Industrial Strategy (CGR&IS), University of Bath
David Bailey, Professor of Business Economics, University of Birmingham

Employers in the UK are about to be hit with a hefty tax rise. From April 1 2025, their national insurance contributions are rising to 15% on salaries above £5,000, instead of 13.8% on salaries above £9,100.

Unsurprisingly, business owners are not happy. Since the change was announced last autumn, many have complained about the effect it will have on their ability to invest and hire staff. Care homes, supermarkets…

Read complete article

~	What are non-tariff barriers – and why is agriculture so exposed?

~	Australia’s ‘coercive’ news media rules are the latest targets of US trade ire

~	How will the history-making new Olympics boss shape sports worldwide, and in Australia?

~	Ending Racism Means Addressing Its Historic Legacies

~	Three experts on racial justice explain why reparations matter

~	Why do I grieve my childhood home so much now we’ve sold it? And what can I do about it?

~	Peer review is meant to prevent scientific misconduct. But it has its own problems

~	ACCC finds Australia’s supermarkets are among the world’s most profitable – but doesn’t accuse them of price gouging

~	We combed through old botanical surveys to track how plants on Australia’s islands are changing

~	The tobacco lobby claims vaping is displacing youth smoking – a close look at the evidence tells another story