Scrap proposals for England holiday tax, hospitality bosses urge

Housebuilders have warned the government’s budget watchdog that ministers’ target of building 1.5 million homes in England by the end of the decade is too optimistic. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has written to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to say that unless the government does something to boost affordability for first time buyers…

Nick Edserbusiness reporter Getty Images The UK economy grew slightly in August, official figures show, as focus intensifies on what measures the government might unveil in next month’s Budget. An increase in manufacturing output helped the economy expand by 0.1%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, but the figure for July was revised down…

Becky MortonPolitical reporter BBC The government is looking at the possibility of cutting the rate of VAT on energy bills, Ed Miliband has suggested. The energy secretary said he would not speculate ahead of the chancellor’s Budget in November. But asked if the government would consider scrapping the 5% rate, he told the BBC the…