Michael Cohen claims Donald Trump directed him to make hush money payments December 15, 2018 Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen claims the US president ordered him to make hush money payments. Cohen, who has been sentenced to three years in prison, claims he followed "a bad path" in being loyal to Trump but would "not be the villain" in the story, in an interview with US broadcaster ABC. "He [...]
Billionaire Mike Ashley and The Entertainer may bid for iconic toy store Hamleys December 14, 2018 Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley and British toy retailer The Entertainer are among the bidders interested in a takeover of Hamleys, according to a report. The world's biggest toy shop has been owned by Chinese fashion conglomerate C.banner since 2015, but Sky News reported this morning that bids are now being considered for an acquisition [...]
Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell fined for breaching pensions law December 14, 2018 Dominic Chappell, the former owner of collapsed retailer British Home Stores, has been fined almost £124,000 for breaking pensions law after the troubled department store fell into administration. Judge Christine Henson QC, who presided over today's re-sentencing at Hove Crown Court, criticised Chappell for showing a "complete lack of remorse". He was ordered to pay [...]
Investigation clears EBRD president after ‘director dossier’ claims December 14, 2018 The head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was cleared of wrongdoing yesterday, following member states’ claims that the lender inappropriately gathered information on some of their directors. The bank confirmed that an external investigation has exonerated EBRD president Suma Chakrabarti after board members representing some of the bank's 70 member governments [...]
Brexit: The EU referendum cost the taxpayer £129m to carry out December 14, 2018 The EU referendum in 2016 cost taxpayers £129.1m, the Electoral Commission has revealed. The UK's electoral watchdog said today that the biggest cost was administering the poll, which included the running of 40,000 polling stations, issuing postal votes and counting votes on the day, and totalled £94.5m. There were also statutory grants of £1.2m to both the [...]
Inquests and inquiries: The role of the family and equality of arms December 14, 2018 Inquests and public inquiries play a vital role in uncovering the truth when things go wrong. This is obvious when we look at recent high profile inquests and inquiries: the Hillsborough inquest, the Grenfell Inquiry, the Westminster Bridge inquest and the upcoming inquest into the Manchester terrorist attack. The public rightly expect proper scrutiny of [...]
Theresa May says ‘crystal clear’ EU must provide Brexit assurances after confronting Juncker December 14, 2018 Theresa May said this afternoon that she had a “robust” conversation with EU leader Jean-Claude Juncker over claims he called her “nebulous”, as she defended her Brexit deal despite a renegotiation looking unlikely. Speaking to media during a Brexit summit in Brussels, May addressed a video catching her and Juncker in the middle of a [...]
Advertising watchdog bans ‘harmful’ gender stereotypes from being used in adverts December 14, 2018 The UK's advertising watchdog today banned gender stereotypes from adverts from June 2019 onwards. The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), the body that writes and maintains the UK's advertising code, has said that gender stereotypes in adverts can be harmful and influence the way some people see themselves or hold them back. The new ban comes [...]
Report into audit sector commissioned by John McDonnell calls for break-up of Big Four December 14, 2018 A report into the audit sector commissioned by shadow chancellor John McDonnell has called for the break-up of the Big Four audit firms. The report, published today, recommended that the audit business of accounting firms must be legally separate from everything else and says it should be a criminal offence for auditors to perform non-audit [...]
DUP leader Arlene Foster asks Theresa May if she will ‘roll over’ for EU on Brexit deal’s Irish backstop clause December 14, 2018 DUP leader Arlene Foster has asked Theresa May whether she will “roll over” for the EU over Brexit, piling further pressure onto the Prime Minister as she seeks changes to her withdrawal agreement in Brussels. Foster said today: “The Prime Minister has promised to get legally binding changes. The reaction by the EU is unsurprising. [...]