This time with Alan Partridge: Lessons from the great man February 25, 2019 I'm fairly certain that whatever the creators of Alan Partridge intended for him, it wasn’t to provide guidance for businesses. He has, however, become an unlikely icon, and when he eventually passes to the tiny studio in the sky, he’ll be granted a period of national re-runs. Many brands also aspire to becoming “iconic”, so [...]
Revealed: Cancelling Commons’ recess cost taxpayers £400,000 – and MPs didn’t even vote on Brexit bills February 25, 2019 An extra week in parliament for MPs to tackle Brexit cost taxpayers’ £400,000 – yet no bills relating to the UK’s departure from the EU were voted on. City AM has learnt the decision to cancel last week’s parliamentary recess meant the Commons coffers were hit from cancelled tours, extra staff payments and postponing building works. Read [...]
Theresa May refuses to say if ministers will be sacked if they vote to delay Brexit February 25, 2019 Theresa May has refused to say whether ministers will be sacked if they vote for a plan which could see Brexit delayed beyond March 29. A proposal put forward by Labour’s Yvette Cooper could force the government to get an extension to the Article 50 negotiating process if a withdrawal agreement has not been agreed [...]
Lord Tyrie says consumers must be put at heart of competition law regime February 25, 2019 The chair of the competition regulator Lord Tyrie today said consumers would be put at the heart of a new competition law regime to help fix the “erosion of trust” between the public and the authorities. Speaking in London at the launch of a set of proposed reforms, Tyrie said there is a “growing sense that [...]
Crossrail bosses hope to give estimate for new opening date ‘by April’ February 25, 2019 London mayor Sadiq Khan has said there is no date that Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild can give "with confidence" for when the delayed railway will open, but that he hopes to give an estimate by the end of this financial quarter. The £17.6bn Elizabeth Line, which will stretch from Shenfield in the east to Reading in the [...]
Banks begin tempting businesses away from RBS as £350m switching scheme goes live February 25, 2019 Banks have begun tempting businesses to switch away from Royal Bank of Scotland as part of a scheme to boost competition in the sector. As a condition of RBS’ £45bn government bailout during the financial crisis – £350m of a state aid package has been provided to eleven other banks to help them attract firms. Read [...]
Blackrock chief executive Larry Fink calls UK ‘irresponsible’ over Brexit uncertainty February 25, 2019 Blackrock chief executive Larry Fink has slammed the UK as “irresponsible” due to the continued uncertainty surrounding Brexit. The boss of the world’s largest asset management fund told CNBC that a lack of understanding surrounding the UK’s future relationship with the EU has forced firms to take action in order to prepare. Read more: Businesses, [...]
Laura Ashley shares soar despite denial of takeover reports February 25, 2019 Shares in Laura Ashley soared more than 20 per cent this morning after the retailer dismissed reports that that entrepreneur Michael Flacks could be weighing up a bid for the embattled firm. Shares were up 23 per cent to 3.99p this morning, despite Laura Ashley chairman Andrew Khoo’s insistence that the textile design company has [...]
Huawei boss pledges to be ‘more transparent’ on European cyber security February 25, 2019 Huawei's top executive in Europe has said the company needs to be "more transparent" in its cyber security practices, hours after Britain's spy agency voiced concerns about its tech. Vincent Peng told reporters at a trade event in Barcelona that the problems the firm is facing are "a technical challenge, not a political challenge". "I want to emphasise, [...]
Who wants a smartphone? Here’s how to sell the Nokia 3310 in 2019 February 25, 2019 "Hello? Yeah I’m on my mobile. Yeah I’m in the library. Nah I can’t talk right now. I’m in a library for Christ’s sake.” If you’re old enough to remember Trigger Happy TV, my apologies in advance for the earworming melody of the Nokia tune bouncing around your skull for the rest of the day. [...]