National Insurance: What are NI and income tax and what do I pay?
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel National Insurance: What are NI and income tax and what do I pay? Banzai Japan Music Video The government has announced an increase in the amount of National Insurance (NI) paid by employers. Before the Budget, the chancellor and prime minister had promised not to increase the main rates of income tax and National Insurance (NI) for working people and these will not change. NI rates paid by workers and the self-employed have already been been cut in 2024, but previous changes to the way tax is calculated mean the amount many people pay overall has risen. Budget 2024: Key points at-a-glance How the Budget will affect you and your money Book Novotel Hotel What is National Insurance and what does it pay for? The government uses National Insurance contributions (NICs) to pay for benefits and to help fund the NHS. It is paid by employees, employers and the self-employed across the UK. Those over the state pension age do not pay it, even if they are working. Eligibility for some benefits, including the state pension, depends on the NICs you make across your working life., external How does National Insurance work?, external Check your National Insurance record Banzai Japan Music Video How much do employers pay in National Insurance? At the moment businesses pay a rate of 13.8% on employees’ earnings above a threshold of £9,100 a year. In the Budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves said this rate would increase to 15% in April 2025, and the threshold would be reduced to £5,000. The employment allowance – which allows companies to reduce their NI liability – will increase from £5,000 to £10,500. In total Reeves said the changes would raise £25bn a year by the end of the period covered by the Budget. Neither employers nor employees pay NI on pension contributions. There had been widespread speculation that the Budget could set out plans for employers to start doing so, but it did not. Would raising employer National Insurance break Labour’s pledge? How much do employees pay in National Insurance? Workers start paying NI when they turn 16 and earn more than £242 a week, or have self-employed profits of more than £12,570 a year. The starting rate for National Insurance for 27 million employees fell twice in 2024: from 12% to 10%, and then again to 8%. The previous Conservative government said that the two cuts were worth about £900 a year for a worker earning £35,000. For the self-employed, Class 4 NI contributions on all earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 fell from 9% to 6%. At the time, the previous government said this was worth £350 to a self-employed person earning £28,200. Self-employed workers also no longer have to pay a separate category of NI called Class 2 contributions. The NI rate on income and profits above £50,270 remains at 2% for all workers. National Insurance rates, external What are the current income tax rates? Income tax is paid on earnings from employment and profits from self-employment during the tax year, which runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. It is also paid on some benefits, external and pensions, income from renting out property, and returns from savings, external and investments, external above certain limits. The basic rate is 20% and is paid on annual earnings between £12,571 and £50,270. The higher rate is 40%, and is paid on earnings between £50,271 and £125,140. Once you earn more than £100,000, you also start losing the £12,570 tax-free personal allowance. You lose £1 of your personal allowance for every £2 that your income goes above £100,000. Anyone earning more than £125,140 a year no longer has any tax-free personal allowance. The additional rate of income tax of 45% is paid on all earnings above £125,140 a year. These rates apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some income tax rates are different, external in Scotland, where a new 45% band took effect in April 2024. At the same time the top rate also rose from 47% to 48%. What is happening to NI and income tax thresholds and why do they matter? Despite the NI cuts for workers and the self-employed in 2024, millions will still pay more tax overall because of changes to the tax thresholds. These are the income levels at which people start paying NI or income tax, or have to pay higher rates. These used to rise every year in line with inflation. However, the previous government froze the NI threshold and tax-free personal allowance at £12,570 until 2028. Higher-rate tax will continue to kick in for earnings above £50,270. Freezing the thresholds means that more people start paying tax and NI as their wages increase, and more people pay higher rates. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think thank, the freeze cancels out the benefits of the NI cuts for some workers. In the 2024-25 tax year, it says an average earner will have a tax cut of about £340 – from the combined tax changes – and people earning between £26,000 and £60,000 will be better off. But by 2027, the average earner would be only £140 better off – and only people earning between £32,000 and £55,000 a year would still benefit. Before the Budget there had been speculation that the chancellor would extend the freeze until 2030 but she said she had decided not to do so. Who pays most in income tax? For most families, income tax is the single biggest tax they pay. But for less well-off households, a greater share of family income goes on taxes on spending, known as indirect taxes. For the poorest fifth of households, VAT is the biggest single tax paid. How do UK taxes compare with other countries like France and Germany? You can look at the amount of tax raised as a proportion of the size of the economy, or GDP. In 2022
The seven bills going up this week
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel The seven bills going up this week Banzai Japan Music Video A series of essential bills are rising at the start of what some commentators have described as “awful April”. The exact amount you pay will depend on your individual circumstances, and where you live. Although minimum wages are also increasing, and wages on average have been outpacing inflation, household finances could still come under extra pressure. Here are seven ways in which you could be affected from 1 April. Book Novotel Hotel 1. Water bills Water bills for households are going up in England and Wales by £10 more per month on average, but there’s a lot of variation depending on the company, external. For example, the annual Southern Water bill will jump 47% to £703, while Anglian Water customers will pay 19% more, or £626. Factors including whether households have a meter and how much water used will also impact bills, which are being front-loaded for the next five years, meaning the big increase is coming this year. Water companies in England and Wales have said the increases are needed to invest in creaking infrastructure, including sewage, and to build more reservoirs. In Scotland, water bills are rising by almost 10%. Scottish Water, which is a public body, said spending was needed to cope with periods of “drought and intense rainfall” brought on by climate change. Domestic customers in Northern Ireland are not billed for water, with the system funded by the devolved government. 2. Energy bills The annual energy bill for a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity is going up by £111 a year to £1,849 from April. Regulator Ofgem increased the energy price cap because of higher wholesale costs and inflation. The cap is set every three months and limits the amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity, but not the total bill, so if you use more, you will pay more. It affects 22 million homes in England, Wales and Scotland. Standing charges – fixed fees to connect to a gas and electricity supply and vary by region – are rising again for gas but dropping for electricity, but it depends on where you live. Ofgem is suggesting households consider a fixed tariff for a bit of stability. Energy price cap: Why are gas and electricity bills going up and can I fix? 3. Council tax It is likely the tax you pay to your local authority is going up. In England, local authorities with responsibility for delivering social care can increase council tax every year by up to 4.99% without triggering a referendum or local vote. Smaller councils without social care duties can increase bills by up to 2.99%. For 2025-26, the government is allowing Bradford, Newham, Birmingham, Somerset, and Windsor and Maidenhead to bypass the 4.99% cap, meaning they could raise council tax by more. Council tax rates in Scotland have been frozen or had limited increases since 2007, but they are are going up, in some cases by as much as 10%. The Scottish government says it is offering local authorities an extra £1bn in 2025-26 to help reduce the scale of any rise. In Wales, council tax rates could jump by as much 15% in some areas. Local authorities were given £253m by the Welsh government in its draft budget, but council leaders say more money needed. Northern Ireland uses a domestic rates system, external instead of council tax. All of Northern Ireland’s councils have reported district rate increases for the next year. What is council tax and how much is it going up? 4. Car tax The standard rate of tax for cars registered after April 2017 is rising £5 to £195 a year. According to the RAC,, external you may pay less or more if your car was first used before 2017. The exact amount for your road tax will depend on the year your car was registered and the type of fuel it uses. One big change is that electric vehicles (EVs) will no longer be tax exempt. EVs registered from April 2025 will pay the lowest rate of £10 in the first year, then move to the standard rate. The standard rate will also apply to EVs first registered after April 2017. Banzai Japan Music Video 5. Broadband, phone and TV licence Rule changes introduced by the telecoms regulator this year mean that mobile and broadband providers must now tell customers “in pounds and pence” about any price rises, as well as when they occur. The new rules typically only apply to new customers, so any price rise will depend on when you took your contract out, but prices ususally increase around now. For instance, under the new rules, someone with a mobile Sim only contract with EE will see their bill go up by £1.50 a month, or £18 a year. But for the majority of EE customers who took their contract out before 10 April 2024, they will face an increase of 6.4%, which is based on the inflation rate last December together with an additional charge. Similarly, most Virgin Media broadband customers will face a 7.5% rise in bills, but for anyone who took out a contract after 9 January this year, their monthly bill will go up by £3.50. The cost of a TV licence is also going up by £5 to £174.50, and for a black and white TV is going up by £1.50 to £58.50. 6. Stamp duty House buyers in England and Northern Ireland will start paying stamp duty on properties over £125,000, instead of over £250,000. First-time buyers currently had paid no stamp duty on homes up to £425,000, but this is dropping to £300,000. A host of homebuyers had been trying to beat the deadline or face paying more. What is stamp duty land tax and how is it changing? 7. Hidden tax rises The government
Thousands join Tommy Robinson march in London
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Thousands join Tommy Robinson march in London Banzai Japan Music Video Thousands of supporters of the far-right activist Tommy Robinson have filled Trafalgar Square in central London after a march. He claimed the event was the “biggest patriotic rally” the UK had ever seen. A counter-protest by Stand Up To Racism and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace & Justice Project also took place in London. The Metropolitan Police said a major operation was in place to “keep the peace” between the two protests, amid fears of serious disruption. A Trans Pride event was also held in the capital. Book Novotel Hotel Amid a sea of England and Union Jack flags, Tommy Robinson’s supporters listened to speeches attacking immigration and promoting “patriotism”. He received a loud cheer in Trafalgar Square when he asked the crowd how many of them had voted for Reform at the general election. He revealed he had asked Nigel Farage to speak at the protest, but said the Reform leader had told him he “couldn’t make it”. At the anti-racist counter-protest nearby, Jeremy Corbyn gave a speech, and demonstrators held placards reading “no to racism, no to hatred” and chanted “we won’t be silent”. Banzai Japan Music Video The Metropolitan Police said five arrests had been made: Two men were arrested on suspicion of “GBH-level [grievous bodily harm] assault” after a participant in the Stand Up To Racism demonstration was assaulted in Victoria Embankment Gardens, the Met said. The victim sustained a head injury and was given first aid by officers A member of the public was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a steward at Trans Pride, and another man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence after a police officer was kicked One man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and a racially aggravated public order offence after allegedly snapping a Palestinian flag and making a racially abusive remark. The Met Police has not said whether the five arrested people were participants in any of Saturday’s protests. Ahead of the marches, police barricaded Whitehall and mobile units were parked in side streets around Westminster. One thousand officers were on duty and Scotland Yard used powers under the Public Order Act to place strict conditions on the timing and location of both protests. The Met said officers would remain on duty after the marches had finished. Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, who is in charge of the weekend’s operation, said police would “intervene decisively” to deal with protesters who broke the conditions. He said: “Our first priority is to keep the peace to ensure that those exercising their right to lawful protest can do so safely.” Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, faces contempt proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday after being accused of continuing to talk online about a libel case he lost in 2021. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Tommy Robinson not welcome in Glasgow – council leader
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Tommy Robinson not welcome in Glasgow – council leader Banzai Japan Music Video Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken has said far-right activist Tommy Robinson is not welcome in the city. The English Defence League (EDL) founder, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posted about a “pro-UK” rally in George Square next month. He wrote “the British are rising” as he shared information about the “peaceful protest”, to be held on 7 September. More than 100 people have been arrested at several violent demonstrations in England in recent days following the Southport knife attack. Ms Aitken posted on X: “Glasgow City Council has received no notification of any rally but then we know Tommy Robinson and his ilk don’t really care about respecting laws or public places. “He’s not welcome in Glasgow and neither is anyone who chooses to align with his poisonous rhetoric.” Book Novotel Hotel Mr Yaxley-Lennon – an anti-Islamist activist who is the subject of an arrest warrant after leaving the country on the eve of a major legal case against him – shared a post that said the Glasgow event would coincide with several pro-UK rallies. It said the rally would “share our distrust and fear of the future”. Pro-UK events are also being organised in other parts of Scotland. Arrests were made earlier this week at demonstrations in Southport, Manchester, London and Hartlepool. Dal Babu, former Chief Superintendent and firearms commander in the Met, has blamed the disorder on the “reckless” spread of misinformation about the identity of the suspect charged in the Southport stabbing. Banzai Japan Music Video ‘Evil ideology’ Mr Yaxley-Lennon did not indicate if he intended to attend the Glasgow event. Scotland’s former first minister, Humza Yousaf, has called for the EDL to be proscribed under terrorism laws following the riot in Southport. Merseyside Police said the rioters – who threw bricks at a mosque following a knife attack which killed three girls on Monday – was made up of EDL supporters. In a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Mr Yousaf claimed “Britain has a far-right problem”, urging her to use anti-terrorism powers to make membership of the group illegal. “It is time we took on the English Defence League and the evil ideology that drives them,” he wrote. The former SNP leader added that such action would not provide an “overnight fix”, but would demonstrate the UK government’s intention to be “proactive in tackling far-right violence and terror that has been allowed to run rampant in the streets of the UK for far too long”. Mr Yaxley-Lennon has insisted that the EDL no longer exists. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for a “clamp down” on social media activity that he says is ramping up hatred and spreading disinformation in the wake of the Southport killings. Mr Sarwar said the violence and disorder seen in the town and elsewhere was “unacceptable and reprehensible”. He told BBC Scotland News it was the responsibility of the UK government, police, security services and also social media companies. ‘Toxic values’ Scottish Green co-leader and Glasgow MSP Patrick Harvie has written to other Holyrood parliamentarians from the city calling for a united response against the rally. “The last few days have shown clearly the contempt the far right have for a grieving community, and they must not be allowed to continue to promote their toxic values unchallenged,” he said. “I have no doubt that those of us who stand against them will far outnumber them if they do gather in Glasgow.” Stand Up to Racism Scotland responded to Mr Yaxley-Lennon’s post by announcing it would also stage a demonstration in George Square on 7 September. The group said it would be a “safely stewarded, family-friendly, demonstration open to all anti-racists and anti-fascists to stand in unity against those stirring up hate and division in our city”. There is no requirement for groups to notify Glasgow City Council of rallies or static protests, as would be the case for a public procession. However, groups seeking to stage an event at George Square would be expected to seek permission to use the space. A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “No permission has been sought or granted.” Mr Yaxley-Lennon had been due in court for allegedly breaching an order not to repeat lies about a Syrian refugee. If he does not does not return, the case will be heard in his absence after 28 October – and could lead to a jail sentence. He has been convicted of a string of offences previously, including assault, mortgage fraud, threatening behaviour and possession of drugs. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
David Tennant announced as guest for MCM London Comic Con
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel David Tennant announced as guest for MCM London Comic Con Banzai Japan Music Video It’s a good day to be a Doctor Who fan: David Tennant is coming to MCM Comic Con London this May, it has been announced. The veteran actor will have his own spotlight panel – aka an interview about his life and career – and will be available for signing and photo opportunities on Saturday May 24. Book Novotel Hotel Tennant is, at this point, a bit of a household name. Born in Paisley, Scotland, he’s most famous for playing the Tenth Doctor in the beloved series Doctor Who, between 2005-2010. That included a long-awaited return to screens in 2023, where he reprised is role as Ten in a three-episode arc that eventually introduced Ncuti Gatwa as the current Doctor. More recently, he’s also appeared in the Prime Video series Good Omens as the devil Crawley, opposite Michael Sheen’s angelic Aziraphale, as the two reluctantly join forces to save the world – at this point, multiple times. Banzai Japan Music Video He’s appeared in Broadchurch, the hit Zoom-lockdown series Staged (also with Sheen, in which both played themselves), as Disney+ series rivals as the villainous Tony Baddingham, and several Shakespeare productions, including a celebrated run as Hamlet, and one as Macbeth, opposite Cush Jumbo, at the Donmar Warehouse. He’s joining a guest list which includes Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Stephanie Beatriz, PlayStation’s Miles Morales Nadji Jeter, sci-fi author Adrian Tchaikovsky, and other stars from Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Power Rangers. The show, which runs between Friday May 23 and Sunday May 25, is held at the Excel Arena and is a chance for people to get together and celebrate their favourite films, books, comics and TV shows. In addition to time with the celebrities attending the event, there’s the chance to attend panels featuring some of the biggest names in pop culture, attend a cosplay masquerade (worth the attendance fee in itself) and hang out with your favourite creators at the Creator’s Pavilion. There’s even a Gaming section, where fans of tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, or live action role playing (or LARPing) can meet. Can’t wait to get stuck in? Tickets for the weekend cost £97 for the full three days and can be purchased here, while new announcements will be made on the MCM Comic Con pages here. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Pizza Hut franchisee accused of ‘wage theft’
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Pizza Hut franchisee accused of ‘wage theft’ Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPElmgQJGBo Pizza Hut workers are accusing a franchise of ”blatantly unlawful” behaviour alleging it has altered timesheets, docked wages and stopped payments per delivery. Glenshire Group which runs all 22 Pizza Hut delivery outlets in Scotland has been served with a grievance by the Unite union on behalf of drivers who claim they were told of changes by text with no consultation. Delivery driver, Cian, told the BBC that Glenshire had shown ”a complete disdain for their staff and their customers” and said it was ”quite honestly abysmal”. Glenshire said it is “absolutely committed to robust employment practices” and said it is “listening to our colleagues, to understand where there are concerns”. Cian, 30, has been delivering pizzas in the west of Glasgow for more than two years. An employee of Pizza Hut franchise, Glenshire Group, he has always been paid the National Living Wage plus a fee of £1.45 per delivery. But he said his terms and conditions were changed without consultation or warning. He said two weeks ago he and several other drivers were told via text message that his pay had increased to £12.21 an hour but he had lost his £1.45 delivery payments, or what the company calls “discretionary driver commissions”. ”The £1.45 would pay for my fuel and a tiny bit of the running cost of my car but I’ve been living paycheque to paycheque,” he told the BBC. “We had multiple drivers just quit because they simply can’t afford to do this job if they’re having to pay for their own fuel. There’s one shop that has lost every single one of their drivers.” In a letter to staff dated 10 March, seen by the BBC, Glenshire said: “We have removed discretionary driver commissions with effect from today. This change is necessary to ensure the sustainability of our operations.” The letter does not state that the company has any plans in place to ensure drivers’ expenses will be paid by Glenshire. In a statement to the BBC, the company said that ”driver commissions have not been reduced, rather the remuneration model has changed from a ‘per delivery’ amount to a ‘per mile’ basis”. ‘Attempt to offload drivers’ Unite’s head of hospitality, Bryan Simpson has accused Glenshire of ”a cynical attempt to offload over 100 drivers” before the rise in employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs), the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage on 1 April. Among the increases next month, the National Living Wage for people aged 21 and over will rise from £11.44 to £12.21. “I have never seen something so blatantly unlawful occur, even in an industry, frankly, that is not known for decent workers rights. This is the worst that I’ve came across in over a decade,” Mr Simpson said. He said the loss of drivers’ commission per delivery could effectively mean that “these workers are going to be brought below the minimum wage. “They’re going to be losing thousands of pounds a year. So, as far as we are concerned, this is fire and rehire under a different name.” Book Novotel Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsGZL-zb54 ‘Not worth me keeping my job’ Unite’s grievance, seen exclusively by the BBC, also accused Glenshire of acting ”fraudulently” by going into old staff timesheets and retroactively adding unpaid 20 minute rest breaks. In a text message seen by the BBC, Glenshire director Zibby Ghafoor told store managers ”all time sheets have been deleted for last week..can we please add breaks in.” Unite claims Glenshire unlawfully deducted these breaks from their wages. In its statement, Glenshire said that there have been “no changes to break policies”. A manager called Adam, not his real name, said he works for hours on his own in his store. He said it’s simply not possible to take breaks. “You do not get your 20 minutes of uninterrupted time ever…so not only do we not get breaks, we now get charged for the breaks that we don’t take.” Cian says it’s his ”civic duty” to speak out even though he knows it could put him at risk of losing his job. ”I’m trying to help people who can’t stand up for themselves, because the way the Glenshire group have treated everyone is abysmal. The long term ramifications of what they are doing, it’s just not worth me keeping my job.” Glenshire Group employs more than 200 staff including more than 100 delivery drivers although over the last few days, the BBC understands several have quit. In the 10 March letter to staff, Glenshire said that with the increases in employer NICs and the National Living Wage rise on 1 April it was having to “reassess our driver delivery model in order to retain business viability”. It also said drivers could choose to switch from being employed to self-employed. The letter stressed this would be a voluntary choice and would not be compulsory. Glenshire last night told the BBC there were “no blanket changes to self-employed contracts taking place”. Banzai Japan Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syHHGzkF_s Call to investigate Employment lawyer Joanne Moseley of Irwin Mitchell warned that from 1 April, when the new National Living Wage is introduced, Glenshire could be in breach of minimum wage regulations. “If Glenshire doesn’t reimburse its drivers for payments they’ve incurred in connection with their employment – in this case their petrol expenses – they will be in breach of the NMW regulations. HMRC will investigate and has the power to impose financial penalties,” she says. Adam called on bosses of the Pizza Hut company to investigate the Glenshire franchise. “Please be aware of what this company are doing to your brand. Please be aware of what they’re doing to the staff and all for their own benefit, all to save them money,” he said. A spokesperson for Pizza Hut UK said: “Pizza Hut is deeply committed to ensuring a safe