Wetherspoons profits take a hit as wage increases kick in March 15, 2019 Wetherspoons has posted a sharp drop in pre-tax profits in its half-year report as increased labour costs took their toll. Read more: Wetherspoons profits slow amid surge in labour costs The figures Revenues increased 7.1 per cent to £889.6m for the 26 weeks to 27 January. Like-for-like sales were up 6.3 per cent over the [...]
IEA says attacks on tax havens undermine competition and privacy March 15, 2019 The Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) has today attacked the UK government’s crackdown on tax havens, saying it undermines competition and breaches people’s right to privacy. Laws to make it public knowledge who avoids tax by registering companies in overseas British territories contradict principles of liberal democracy and damage the economy, the free-market think tank’s [...]
SEC sues Volkswagen over ‘massive fraud’ on US investors during emissions scandal March 15, 2019 Volkswagen perpetrated a “massive fraud” on US investors over its diesel emissions scandal, according to a major regulatory body now suing the firm. Read more: Volkswagen boss apologises for 'unfortunate' Nazi gaffe The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil complaint against the company overnight, claiming that the car manufacturer issued more than $13b [...]
Mark Kleinman: Interserve is left to clean up its own mess March 15, 2019 What’s this? A public voting process punctuated by angry disputes about the terms and timing of a deal; feverish talk of ousting the top team orchestrating the agreement; and potentially dire consequences if the vote is blocked. It sounds a lot like events in Westminster, but today might instead mark the denouement of another of [...]
Editor’s Notes: The future of capitalism deserves more debate than a few viral tweets March 15, 2019 The desk in my office is groaning under the weight of books. They’re stacked up around the computer screens and at risk of blocking out natural light. I suppose it’s an appropriate look for an editor, though the scene has not been constructed deliberately. Indeed, none of these books have been read. They are unsolicited, [...]
City Moves for 15 March 2019 – Who’s switching jobs at WBD, Deezer and BBC? March 14, 2019 Today's City Moves includes Womble Bond Dickinson, Deezer and the BBC. Womble Bond Dickinson Transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has appointed Audrey Koh as a partner in the firm’s London office. Specialising in white collar crime, Audrey will strengthen the firm’s key sectors of expertise, in particular financial institutions, energy and natural resources, [...]
Facebook loses two top technology execs after Zuckerberg adopts privacy shift March 14, 2019 Two senior Facebook technology executives have left the social media giant, days after its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the company would be moving towards a “privacy-focused future”. Zuckerberg said in a blog post that chief product officer Chris Cox, one of the firm’s earliest employees, and Whatsapp vice president Chris Daniels had resigned. “As Mark has [...]
Sir Vince Cable to step down as Lib Dem leader in May to make way for a ‘new generation’ March 14, 2019 Sir Vince Cable will quit as leader of the Liberal Democrats in May to make way for a “new generation.” Cable told party members that unless parliament “collapsed” into an early general election, a leadership contest would be called in May. Read more: Sir Vince Cable calls for probe into Treasury role in RBS GRG [...]
Brexit delay on the way after MPs back Theresa May’s postponement plan March 14, 2019 MPs have given the green light for Brexit to be delayed beyond March 29, but the divisions at the heart of Theresa May’s government were once again laid bare. The Commons voted 413 to 202 in favour of asking the EU to postpone the Brexit date – either by three months if MPs back a deal by [...]
City Hall at risk of Momentum takeover after Labour changes reselection rules March 14, 2019 City Hall could be targeted by hard-left Labour activists after the party changed rules to make the deselection of moderate candidates more likely. Labour’s governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), voted to change party rules for the Assembly last month, which one Labour Assembly Member (AM) said had sparked a “climate of fear and [...]