UK Business News

MPs condemn Revenue for poor tax collection

Organisational failures and outdated systems mean HM Revenue & Customs will fail to collect £11.2bn

Lord Burns left Welsh Water over 'corruption'

Chairman left utility because he was 'appalled and disgusted' by details emerging from continuing inquiry into the company

• Consultancy drawn into Welsh Water inquiry

• Bribery allegations investigated at Welsh Water

Cable & Wireless hires new finance boss

Tim Weller will join from United Utilities next year in advance of a much-awaited demerger of telecoms group

• C&W declares intent to split into two by March

• Telecoms operators offer reasons to be cheerful

Bankers prepare for Christmas at Easter

Alistair Darling has been accused of going soft on the City by producing a tax on bonuses that would be easy to avoid

World Business News

Dubai markets continue downward spiral

Government intervention to scrap a planned property group merger fails to stop confidence from dropping further

Ireland unveils budget cuts of €4bn

The Finance Minister said that the corner had been turned and that people would not suffer such a punishing Budget again

• Lenihan grasps tail of bloodied Celtic Tiger

• Here's how you do a budget

Japanese recovery hopes in tatters

Downward revision of figures is more marked than expected, although some commentators see silver lining

• Tokyo to back business in minerals race

• Japanese economy hit by 'double nightmare'

Aer Lingus suffers double blow in fight for survival

Coyle's exit comes amid wider unrest at the airline, which is considering compulsory redundancies and a fleet reduction

Analysis

City bamboozled by the bonus tax

Rough justice to be the order of the day as some have their pay packets slashed and others laugh all the way to the bank

Faster growth is the only way out of this hole

Cuts and higher taxes are not the answer. It is a moral imperative that people are masters of their own financial destiny

Tempus: Standard can ride out Dubai's storm

Although it is one of the most heavily exposed banks to the region, it is on course for record income and pre-tax profit

Law  

Parents to sue Maclaren over finger amputations

At least 15 British families are to sue pushchair manufacturer claiming its buggies severed children’s fingertips

Case of 'abandoned' boy angers judge

Family judge left with a 'sense of disbelief' after two local authorities distanced themselves from sick boy to save money

• Straw has second thoughts over media coverage

• 'I do not remove a child unless it is the right thing to do'

‘Unmarried couples need new legal rights'

Senior judge now in charge of law reform says change is needed to protect people’s rights when they separate

Money  

How can I spice up my business?

A foodie couple need a recipe to help them save for the future — and a second honeymoon would be the icing on the cake

• Money MoT: Help me to deal with job insecurity

• Money MoT: How can I ride out the recession?

We lost our dream home

Borrowers are continuing to miss out on mortgage deals because of flawed data from credit reference agencies

• Hopes rise of recovery in new build property market

• Developer discounts spark buy-to-let spree

Where next for the stock market lost decade?

Should you be in shares, cash, property or commodities for the next 10 years? We weigh up the arguments for and against

business travel  

Profile: Leisure boss John Morphet

The man who runs the estate where Freddie Flintoff and Wayne Rooney have homes shares his views on business travel

International rail compensation brought into line with air travel

New rules mean cross-border train passengers will get more in the event of delay or cancellation

Rail nightmare for Gatwick and Luton

Industrial action and service restrictions from the £5.5bn Thameslink programme are causing headaches