Strikes, cyber attacks, rents and tax

Theresa May is under pressure this week as thousands of workers go on strike, affecting rail journeys, flights and postal services.

The BBC reports that ‘about 3,000 staff at hundreds of Crown post offices are expected to walk out on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. But the Post Office said fewer than 300 branches would be affected, with ‘business as usual’ in most places.’ At present, about 50 Crown Post Offices – the large branches, found on the High Street – are closed due to strike action. In addition, there are reports in today’s newspapers that Royal Mail delivery staff may follow suit.

Meanwhile, the misery compounds for commuters as the rail strike at Southern continues with conductors beginning two days of action. Also today, talks will be held aimed at averting a strike by British Airways cabin crew over Christmas. Cyber attacks The Guardian reports on comments by the Andrew Tyrie, head of the Treasury select committee. He has written to Ciaran Martin, head of the new cybersecurity centre of UK surveillance agency GCHQ, saying the lines of responsibility and accountability for reducing cyber-threats are opaque. Tyrie’s letter to Martin, who is leading the Cheltenham-based National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), uses last month’s incident at Tesco Bank – when £2.5 million was stolen from 9,000 accounts – to illustrate the vulnerabilities of the financial system. Rents In the first report from the Association of Residential Letting Agents since the announcement of a ban on letting agent fees, 80 per cent of agents say they expect rent prices to increase next year.

Tax

The Guardian reports that ‘tax accounts for more than half of the total cost of the average family’s Christmas alcohol shop, a study by the wine and spirits industry has found. While alcohol duties are typically higher per head in Finland, Ireland and Germany, British consumers pay more alcohol tax than the citizens of most other European Union member states.’ The paper states that a family spending £171.66 stocking the drinks cabinet for the festive season will hand over £88.19 of that sum to the Treasury. By comparison, the total cost of the equivalent amount of alcohol in France would be £136.89, with just £43.52 going to the taxman. Jobs The Telegraph reports on the Confederation of British Industry’s annual employment survey. According to the CBI, Britain’s science and technology industries are expected to lead another leap in hiring next year, in another vote of confidence in the economy following the Brexit vote. Places to live Winchester has been named the UK’s best place to live, according to the 2016 Halifax Quality of Life Survey. The local authority district of Winchester (which includes the City of Winchester) scooped the top spot based on residents’ health and life expectancy, employment and earnings, and high scores in personal well-being surveys. The Orkney Islands have taken second place, followed by Wychavon in Worcestershire, Derbyshire Dales and Hambleton in North Yorkshire. Finally…

Grandparents are set to spend an average of £236 on their grandchildren’s Christmas presents, according to a new study by Co-op.