William Hill signs sports betting deal with casino giant Eldorado in US push September 5, 2018 William Hill has signed a 25-year partnership with US casino group Eldorado as it looks to expand into the growing US sports betting industry. Eldorado, which owns 21 casinos across 11 states, would take a 20 per cent stake in William Hill's US business and receive $50m in stock from the bookmaker. It comes after [...]
Mayor backs London tech startups for City innovation September 5, 2018 Meet the fourteen startups that made the mayor of London's shortlist to tackle the capital's key challenges across seven sectors. Launched in June as part of London's smart city initiative, Sadiq Khan's Civic Innovation Challenge will later award seven of these startups – one for each challenge – a grant of £15,000 to test their ideas [...]
Labour slammed over free speech caveat on IHRA antisemitism definition September 5, 2018 The Labour Party has accepted the international definition of antisemitism but it was slammed by members and Jewish groups for adding a freedom of speech "caveat" . The party's National Executive Committee (NEC) has agreed to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition, with an added clarification over freedom of expression on Israel and Palestine. Read more: Labour activist in [...]
Housebuilder Berkeley warns UK housing market ‘lacks urgency’ September 5, 2018 Housebuilder Berkeley Group has warned of Brexit “headwinds” harming the UK housing market’s prospects for growth, with London and the south east particularly affected. However, it expects to post strong financial performance for the four months to the end of August, the construction firm said in a trading update it will share at its annual [...]
Lord Mervyn King labels Brexit preparations ‘incompetent’ September 5, 2018 Former Bank of England governor Lord Mervyn King has condemned the government’s Brexit preparations, claiming they leave the UK in a weak negotiating position. Calling plans to stockpile food and medicine in the event of a hard Brexit “incompetent”, the Brexit voter told the BBC that “a government that cannot take action to prevent some [...]
DEBATE: Would it be beneficial for the UK economy if Mark Carney stayed on as Bank of England governor? September 5, 2018 Would it be beneficial for the UK economy if Mark Carney stayed on as Bank of England governor? Katrina Usita, an economist at OMFIF, says YES. Uncertainty is the UK economy’s greatest problem. Mark Carney’s willingness to extend his term as Bank of England governor for another year assuages some of that, at least in [...]
Stop shutting the door in the face of international students September 5, 2018 As we leave the European Union, it is accepted across the political divide that the government should be doing all it can to promote our key export industries and help to support the vision of a truly global Britain. However, there is one area where we seem to have a blind spot: international students, a [...]
The Salmond scandal won’t save the Union from the SNP September 5, 2018 There are quite a few people cheering from the aisles following the revelations that Alex Salmond, the former SNP leader and first minister of Scotland for seven years, is being investigated by police after complaints were made against him alleging inappropriate sexual behaviour by two civil servants. I suggest that people drop the schadenfreude and [...]
Unemployment down, GDP up – there’s no logic for a public spending boost now September 5, 2018 Despite the warmth of the days, there is a distinct autumn feel to the mornings. And in the autumn, thoughts begin to turn to the Budget. Speculation has already begun about what the chancellor Philip Hammond might or might not do. Read more: Corbyn won’t stop until the government controls everything For Labour, recent weeks have [...]
Now is not the time to reform Help to Buy – it’s the time to scrap it entirely September 5, 2018 Housebuilders weighed on the FTSE yesterday following reports that the government is unlikely to extend the Help to Buy programme – in its current format – beyond 2021. Help to Buy has been doping up the housing market for more than half a decade since former chancellor George Osborne revealed his plan to stimulate demand. Prices [...]