Former IoD boss banned as a director over Covid bounce back loan abuse Business A former boss of the Institute of Directors has been banned as a company director after being found to have breached Covid loan rules. Anna Daroy, who served as interim Chief Operating Officer and later as interim Director General of the Institute of Directors from October 2018 to November 2019, has been accused of obtaining [...]
Former Reform MP to shut down firm after allegations dismissed Politics A former Reform UK MP is shutting down one of the companies he was alleged to have not declared a financial interest in. James McMurdock, who now sits as the independent MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock in Essex, has applied to Companies House to have Gym Live Health & Fitness Limited struck off. The move [...]
Dragons’ Den athlete sentenced for using Covid loans to buy £1m house Sport A British world champion sprinter who appeared on Dragons’ Den has been given a suspended prison sentenced after using Covid loans to help fund a £1.3m house purchase. Rick Beardsell, who competed on the senior Masters circuit, obtained two maximum-value £50,000 Bounce Back Loans for his sportswear manufacturing business Sports Creative Limited in 2020 and [...]
Game over for Tomb Raider composer after Covid loan fraud conviction July 18, 2025 A video game composer and sound designer best know for his work on the Tomb Raider series has been jailed for fraudulently applying for a Covid loan. Peter Connelly, who is based in Durham, overstated his company’s turnover to obtain a second Bounce Back Loan of £37,500 in 2020 when businesses were only entitled to [...]
Reform MP James McMurdock removes party whip ‘from himself’ over Covid loans investigation July 5, 2025 Reform MP James McMurdock has suspended himself as chief whip following a Sunday Times investigation into his misuse of Covid-19 government loans. McMurdock, who has represented South Basildon and East Thurrock since last July’s general election, is alleged to have borrowed tens of thousands of pounds under the government’s Bounce Back loans scheme, according to a [...]
Starling Bank: The rise and fall of a fintech darling May 30, 2025 Over a decade ago three fintechs entered the banking scene and set their sights on reshaping its landscape. Starling, Monzo and Revolut rapidly expanded as they leveraged modern tech to streamline banking operations, enhance consumer experience and disrupt traditional financial models. The trio of fintech darlings ballooned customer bases in record numbers. But as two [...]
Over 800 directors have been disqualified for abusing Covid loan scheme April 15, 2024 More than 800 directors have been disqualified for abusing Covid support schemes over the 2023-24 financial year following investigations by the Insolvency Service.
UK rips up state guarantees on nearly £1bn of Covid loans November 1, 2023 The UK government has scrapped guarantees on nearly £1bn of bank loans handed out to ailing businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving lenders on the hook for some of the borrowings that will not be repaid.
Fast growth tech firms won’t wait for the glacial pace of British politics September 22, 2023 Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini budget was a disaster, but he was right about the sluggish way government deals with tech.
Taxpayer foots bad Covid loan bill of £7.4bn amid ‘uncomfortable level of fraud’ September 14, 2023 The government has already had to foot a £7.4bn bill to settle bad loans while banks have claimed a further £1.13bn under the schemes.