Latest news with #AA
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Hard-pressed Brits face MORE misery at the pumps as fears mount Rachel Reeves will hike fuel duty
DRIVERS already hammered by soaring motoring taxes could face fresh pain at the pump with a fuel duty hike. Top Tory Dame Priti Patel said a hike would mean a 'betrayal of working people'. The AA says motorists are already being squeezed, with Vehicle Excise Duty rising by £30 since 2022, plus millions more paid in parking charges, tolls and congestion fees. AA boss Edmund King also warned any rise at the pumps 'could be catastrophic' for the UK economy. He added: 'The added danger is increased duty simply fuels higher inflation. The strong message to the Chancellor is 'keep it down'.' READ MORE ON FUEL DUTY The AA says motorists are already being squeezed from all sides, with Vehicle Excise Duty jumping from £165 to £195 since 2022, and millions more paid in parking charges, tolls and congestion fees. Drivers of older cars, including popular models like the Ford Fiesta and VW Golf, also face a £160 tax hike when they are eventually forced to upgrade to newer vehicles. The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011 - saving drivers thousands but ministers are under pressure to find cash after billions were pledged to reverse planned welfare cuts. A Treasury spokesperson said: 'We extended the fuel duty cut this year, saving drivers £3billion, and we're investing £1.6billion to end the pothole plague by fixing up to seven million extra potholes.' Most read in Motors Pressed on whether she would raise taxes, Reeves said: 'Of course there is a cost to the welfare changes that parliament voted through this week and that will be reflected in the budget. 'But I'm also very, very clear that [the] stability that we've been able to return to the economy, which has enabled the Bank of England to cut interests rates four times, is only possible because of the fiscal discipline which is underpinned by the fiscal rules. Never Mind The Ballots Fuel Duty Debate "And we'll be sticking to those because they're absolutely vital for the living standards of working people and also the costs that businesses face.' 1 Hard-pressed Brits could face a fuel duty hike after Labour's welfare U-turn
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Hard-pressed Brits face MORE misery at the pumps as fears mount Rachel Reeves will hike fuel duty
AA boss Edmund King also warned any rise at the pumps 'could be catastrophic' for the UK economy TAKING US FOR FUELS Hard-pressed Brits face MORE misery at the pumps as fears mount Rachel Reeves will hike fuel duty DRIVERS already hammered by soaring motoring taxes could face fresh pain at the pump with a fuel duty hike. Rachel Reeves is understood to be 'considering everything' at the next Budget after her welfare U-turn — prompting fears for motorists. Advertisement Top Tory Dame Priti Patel said a hike would mean a 'betrayal of working people'. The AA says motorists are already being squeezed, with Vehicle Excise Duty rising by £30 since 2022, plus millions more paid in parking charges, tolls and congestion fees. AA boss Edmund King also warned any rise at the pumps 'could be catastrophic' for the UK economy. He added: 'The added danger is increased duty simply fuels higher inflation. The strong message to the Chancellor is 'keep it down'.' Advertisement The AA says motorists are already being squeezed from all sides, with Vehicle Excise Duty jumping from £165 to £195 since 2022, and millions more paid in parking charges, tolls and congestion fees. Drivers of older cars, including popular models like the Ford Fiesta and VW Golf, also face a £160 tax hike when they are eventually forced to upgrade to newer vehicles. The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011 - saving drivers thousands but ministers are under pressure to find cash after billions were pledged to reverse planned welfare cuts. A Treasury spokesperson said: 'We extended the fuel duty cut this year, saving drivers £3billion, and we're investing £1.6billion to end the pothole plague by fixing up to seven million extra potholes.' Advertisement Pressed on whether she would raise taxes, Reeves said: 'Of course there is a cost to the welfare changes that parliament voted through this week and that will be reflected in the budget. 'But I'm also very, very clear that [the] stability that we've been able to return to the economy, which has enabled the Bank of England to cut interests rates four times, is only possible because of the fiscal discipline which is underpinned by the fiscal rules. Never Mind The Ballots Fuel Duty Debate "And we'll be sticking to those because they're absolutely vital for the living standards of working people and also the costs that businesses face.' 1 Hard-pressed Brits could face a fuel duty hike after Labour's welfare U-turn
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Hard-pressed Brits face MORE misery at the pumps as fears mount Rachel Reeves will hike fuel duty
DRIVERS already hammered by soaring motoring taxes could face fresh pain at the pump with a fuel duty hike. Rachel Reeves is understood to be 'considering everything' at the next Budget after her welfare U-turn — prompting fears for motorists. Top Tory Dame Priti Patel said a hike would mean a 'betrayal of working people'. The AA says motorists are already being squeezed, with Vehicle Excise Duty rising by £30 since 2022, plus millions more paid in parking charges, tolls and congestion fees. AA boss Edmund King also warned any rise at the pumps 'could be catastrophic' for the UK economy. He added: 'The added danger is increased duty simply fuels higher inflation. The strong message to the Chancellor is 'keep it down'.' The AA says motorists are already being squeezed from all sides, with Vehicle Excise Duty jumping from £165 to £195 since 2022, and millions more paid in parking charges, tolls and congestion fees. Drivers of older cars, including popular models like the Ford Fiesta and VW Golf, also face a £160 tax hike when they are eventually forced to upgrade to newer vehicles. The Sun's Keep It Down campaign has helped freeze fuel duty since 2011 - saving drivers thousands but ministers are under pressure to find cash after billions were pledged to reverse planned welfare cuts. A Treasury spokesperson said: 'We extended the fuel duty cut this year, saving drivers £3billion, and we're investing £1.6billion to end the pothole plague by fixing up to seven million extra potholes.' Pressed on whether she would raise taxes, Reeves said: 'Of course there is a cost to the welfare changes that parliament voted through this week and that will be reflected in the budget. 'But I'm also very, very clear that [the] stability that we've been able to return to the economy, which has enabled the Bank of England to cut interests rates four times, is only possible because of the fiscal discipline which is underpinned by the fiscal rules. "And we'll be sticking to those because they're absolutely vital for the living standards of working people and also the costs that businesses face.' 1
IOL News
9 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
How ANC's collusion with big businesses undermines transformation
Nco Dube a political economist, businessman, and social commentator. Image: Supplied South Africa's post-apartheid journey has been marked by a bold constitutional promise: to dismantle the economic structures of racial privilege and build a society where the black majority can share in the country's wealth and opportunities. Central to this promise are the empowerment laws, Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Affirmative Action (AA), crafted to drive economic inclusion and redress decades of exclusion. Yet, nearly three decades on, the slow pace of transformation and the growing backlash against these laws reveal a darker reality: a coordinated agenda, both local and global, to halt transformation, preserve white privilege, and enrich a narrow elite. At the heart of this crisis lies a deeply troubling collusion between big business and ANC elites. A symbiotic relationship that has subverted the original intent of empowerment laws, turning them into tools for elite enrichment rather than broad-based economic justice. The Promise and the Betrayal of Empowerment When the ANC was unbanned in 1990 and South Africa embarked on its democratic journey, the vision was clear: to dismantle apartheid's economic legacy and create a more equitable society. BEE and AA laws were designed to open doors for black South Africans through ownership, management, employment equity, and skills development. There have been pockets of progress. Black ownership and representation in certain sectors have increased, and a black middle class has emerged. Some black entrepreneurs have thrived, and certain companies have made genuine strides in employment equity. But for the ordinary black South African, the man on the street, these gains have often been invisible or out of reach. Poverty, unemployment, and inequality remain entrenched, and the benefits of transformation have been captured by a small, politically connected elite. This failure is no accident. It is the product of systemic corruption, incompetence, and a political will that has been fatally compromised by the very leaders entrusted with delivering transformation. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Symbiotic Relationship Between Big Business and ANC Elites Since the unbanning of the ANC, a problematic alliance has formed between big business and ANC political elites. White monopoly capital, anxious to protect its interests in the new dispensation, extended lucrative BEE deals to ANC insiders. This was not broad-based empowerment, it was a transactional pact: business secured access to government contracts, regulatory favour, and influence, while ANC elites gained wealth and power. This arrangement has had devastating consequences for genuine transformation: Elite Enrichment Through Selective BEE Deals: Instead of empowering the masses, many BEE deals were structured to benefit a narrow group of ANC-connected individuals. Shares, directorships, and business opportunities were handed to political insiders, creating a black elite that often mirrored the exclusivity of the apartheid-era white elite. The majority of black South Africans saw little direct benefit from these deals. Empirical evidence shows that many beneficiaries of these deals were ANC apparatchiks, with the majority of black South Africans seeing little direct benefit. Board Appointments and Political Influence: At least 56 ANC politicians have held directorships in major JSE-listed companies, blurring the lines between political power and corporate governance. This overlap ensured that business interests were protected and that policies favoured entrenched elites rather than broad economic inclusion. Research shows a significant overlap between ANC politicians and the boards of major JSE-listed companies. Many of them holding multiple directorships across a wide array of companies. This integration allowed big business to secure their interests by aligning with politically influential individuals, ensuring favourable treatment and policy influence, rather than driving genuine transformation. Fronting and Window-Dressing: Many companies engaged in fronting, appointing black individuals to nominal positions to meet BEE requirements without transferring real control or economic benefit. This practice allowed companies to access government contracts and benefits fraudulently, undermining the integrity of empowerment laws. While real control and benefits remain with the original (often white) owners. Examples include listing low-level black employees as company directors without their knowledge or creating side agreements that strip black shareholders of real power. State Capture and Policy Manipulation: The alliance between business and ANC elites facilitated state capture, where government resources and policy were manipulated to serve private interests. The mutually beneficial relationship between business and ANC elites has led to 'state capture,' where business interests influence legislation and procurement processes for their own benefit, often at the expense of the broader public. This has included shaping policies to favour certain companies, securing lucrative government contracts, and manipulating regulatory frameworks to protect established interests. The Bosasa scandal, for example, involved manufacturing BEE credentials and funnelling money to the ANC through corrupt tender processes, with cash bribes and fraudulent invoicing used to secure government business and support election campaigns. This collusion has transformed empowerment laws from instruments of justice into mechanisms for elite enrichment and preservation of privilege. The focus on enriching a politically connected elite, rather than fostering broad-based participation and economic inclusion, has led to widespread public disillusionment and persistent inequality. The original vision of BEE as a tool for mass empowerment has been subverted by collusion between big business and ANC elites, resulting in a narrow base of beneficiaries and limited progress for the majority. The Global Rightward Shift and the Anti-Transformation Agenda Adding fuel to the fire is the global political climate. The rise of right-wing populism in the United States and elsewhere has emboldened anti-transformation forces in South Africa. Figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk have amplified narratives of white victimhood, including the false and dangerous 'white genocide' myth targeting South Africa. White interest groups such as the Democratic Alliance (DA), Solidarity, and Afriforum have seized this moment to push back against transformation. They cloak their agendas in rhetoric about 'meritocracy' and 'non-racialism,' but their true aim is to preserve apartheid-era privileges and slow the pace of change. Meanwhile, as the ANC faces potential electoral decline, white monopoly capital is already seeking new political partners to maintain its influence, regardless of who governs. The anti-transformation agenda is thus both a local and international phenomenon, threatening to roll back the hard-won gains of the past three decades. Successes, Failures, and the Road Ahead It is important to acknowledge the successes. There are black entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders who have leveraged empowerment laws to build businesses and create jobs. Some sectors have made genuine progress in diversifying ownership and management. But these successes are exceptions, not the rule. The systemic failures of corruption, elite capture, fronting, and state capture have undermined the transformative potential of empowerment laws. The struggle over South Africa's empowerment laws is a struggle for the soul of the nation. Will the country continue down a path where transformation is hollowed out by corruption and elite collusion, or will it reclaim the constitutional imperative to build an inclusive economy for all its people? The stakes could not be higher.
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
Thousands of Alcoholics Anonymous members in Vancouver for convention
Attendees gather for the International Alcoholics Anonymous Convention in Vancouver on July 3, 2025. More than 35,000 people are expected to flood downtown Vancouver for the International Alcoholics Anonymous Convention, which is returning after a 10-year hiatus. The three-day conference is normally held every five years, but the 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ballrooms and other spaces at the Vancouver Convention Centre will hold AA meetings, events and other gatherings as a way for attendees to share their journey to sobriety. Long-time AA member Vera F. arrived this week from Massachusetts. She told CTV News her road to recovery began in 1989 after years of alcohol abuse. She explained that her drinking led to broken relationships, lost jobs and even jail time after she was arrested in 1986 for driving under the influence – which ended with her flipping her truck on the highway, sending her sliding 300 feet. Four decades later, her arm remains with significant scarring and injuries. 'This is a direct result of my drinking,' said Vera. 'This is a reminder of what my life looked like before Alcoholics Anonymous.' She credits the program for saving her life and giving her a renewed sense of purpose. Over the next three days, Vera and the other members from around the world will attend meetings and share their stories before gathering at BC Place for a final celebration on Saturday. The three-day event has filled nearly 96,000 hotel room nights, which will contribute to the expected $63 million boost to the local economy, according to new figures from Destination Vancouver. For those who are seeking help for a drinking problem, more information can be found on the AA website.
