Public Affairs News Summary, latter half of October 2024
Tuesday 05-11-2024 - 13:29
Autumn Budget 2024 at a glance
With the Labour Party assuming government since their election win in summer, they have announced their first budget for the year 2025. Key changes include an increase in National Living Wage for those over 21 to £12.21 from £11.44, those 18-20 to £10 from £8.6, bus fare cap, previously introduced by the Conservative government, increased from £2 to £3, excluding London and Greater Manchester owing to funding differences. Other changes, including the VAT charges to private school fees, and air passenger duty for economy short-haul flights and private jets.
Source: BBC News ‘How the Budget will affect you and your money’, The Guardian ‘Budget 2024: key points at a glance’
Seven swing states that might determine the US Presidential election outcome
Adapting the Electoral College, the US Presidential election is not simply winner-takes-all, but requires the candidates to secure a simple majority of 270 electoral college votes out of the 538 electors. Although there are a sizable number of states crowned “Red/Blue States”, “Purple States” are often those that ultimately decide the outcome of the election. In the 2024 election, the seven states, including Michigan and Nevada, may play a decisive role on whether Trump or Harris finally wins the election. Issues these states are concerned about ranges from economic issues- particularly inflation, and cost of living as a result- to the Israel-Gaza War.
Source: BBC News ‘Seven swing states set to decide the 2024 US election’, ‘US election 2024: A really simple guide to the presidential vote’
