Poll: Three-quarters of MPs think Theresa May made a bad job of Brexit negotiations January 9, 2019 Nearly three-quarters of MPs feel that Theresa May has done a bad job of handling Brexit negotiations, according to a new poll. The annual poll of MPs – conducted by Ipsos Mori on behalf of The UK in a Changing Europe think tank and the Mile End Institute at the Queen Mary University of London [...]
Aussie PM Morrison red-faced as photoshop gaffe gives him two left feet January 9, 2019 It’s official, Australia’s Prime Minister has two left feet. PM Scott Morrison was left red-faced by his body parts yesterday as sharp-eyed Twitter viewers spotted a photoshop gaffe. Keen to cover up his scruffy footwear in a family portrait, the Prime Minister’s aides airbrushed out his shoes, accidentally giving him two left feet in the [...]
Merger growth drives Grant Thornton International to record £4.3bn revenues January 9, 2019 Grant Thornton International reported record revenues of $5.45bn (£4.28bn), lifted by income expansion from international mergers, and strong growth in its tax and advisory arms. The figure is up $450m on last year, representing an average growth of 9.4 per cent across the whole organisation – slightly behind the 10.7 per cent global growth at [...]
Olivia Colman’s Golden Globe award acceptance speech is a masterclass in public speaking January 9, 2019 We may not all win Oscars or Baftas, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot learn from the best acceptance speeches made by the world’s top performers. This week’s Golden Globes ceremony is a prime example, as British stars Olivia Colman and Christian Bale scooped up awards for best actress and actor respectively. In light [...]
Government analysis ‘sheds no more light’ on Brexit, says Treasury committee January 9, 2019 Treasury Select Committee chair Nicky Morgan has castigated the government over its Brexit outcome analyses, claiming it has shown the “most optimistic” model without addressing other factors including the short-term impact of leaving the EU. Morgan, who was among the rebel Tories that pushed the government into a historic defeat over no-deal powers yesterday, said [...]
Why the cheapest mortgage deal isn’t necessarily the right one January 9, 2019 The Financial Conduct Authority’s report into the mortgage market found that around 30 per cent of borrowers were unable to see that they were eligible for a cheaper deal. On average, these consumers paid around £550 per year more over the introductory period compared to the cheaper product. But this poses a question: is the cheapest [...]
Five ways to clean up your buy-to-let portfolio in 2019 January 9, 2019 While January is a great time to be making financial resolutions, with many over-spending at Christmas, it’s sometimes best to concentrate on making the most of what you already have. For 2.5m people owning £1.4 trillion of buy-to-let, investment property is the best place to start. It comprises an enormous part of personal wealth, it [...]
UK labour productivity falls in ‘very weak’ quarter January 9, 2019 UK labour productivity decreased 0.4 per cent in the third quarter of last year, while annual growth was at its weakest in two years. Output per hour fell 0.4 per cent compared with the previous quarter and grew just 0.2 per cent on the third quarter of 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics. [...]
Shoe Zone shares soar as retailer posts record profits January 9, 2019 Shares in discount footwear Shoe Zone soared more than 10 per cent this morning on the news that the group had secured its highest profit since it floated in 2014. The figures Profit before tax increased 18.4 per cent to £11.3m for the year to the end of September, up from £9.5m in 2017, and [...]
Taylor Wimpey shares jump as housebuilder maintains expectations despite uncertainty January 9, 2019 Taylor Wimpey saw its share price rise today as it remains on track to meet its full-year expectations, despite the slowing housing market. In an eagerly-anticipated trading update the housebuilder said total house completions increased three per cent in 2018 to 14,947, while total order book value was £1.78bn, up from £1.62bn the same time last [...]