News and views from the business world with Jeremy Naylor and Andy Verity. The US President Barack Obama is expected to announce tougher safety requirements for off-shore oil drilling. We look at what effect the Gulf of Mexico oil leak is having on BP's international reputation. The coalition government is widely expected to raise VAT next month in an attempt to tackle the £156 billion budget deficit. And, the name Tate & Lyle may be associated with sugar but some analysts are calling on the company's management to expand into other areas.