Gordon Brown has a third “patriotic” option in the debate over a second Scottish independence referendum March 18, 2017 Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has an alternative to full-blown independence from the UK, as the debate over a second Scottish referendum ramps up. During a speech in Fife, Brown suggested giving Holyrood vast new powers, including the responsibility of signing treaties with other European and setting VAT – as long as it stays in the UK. Read [...]
Not just hot air: Government plugs £23m of funding into accelerating the take-up of hydrogen vehicles March 18, 2017 The government has announced a new £23m fund to accelerate the take-up of hydrogen vehicles and roll-out high-tech infrastructure such as fuel stations. A perceived road bump to wider usage is the availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, so the government is launching a competition this summer. Hydrogen fuel providers will be able to bid for funding in [...]
An anti-racism march is being held in London today by Stand Up to Racism to defend EU nationals’ rights and protest Trump’s ban March 18, 2017 Thousands are expected to take part in today’s anti-racism march in the capital to mark UN Anti-Racism Day and campaign for EU workers in the UK and against the “toxic scapegoating of migrants”. Organisers Stand Up to Racism said: “As Theresa May prepares to trigger Article 50 with ‘hard Brexit’ while contributing to the toxic [...]
No playing around: Monopoly bins the thimble, wheelbarrow and boot tokens for the new T-rex, penguin and rubber duck March 18, 2017 Remember the Monopoly days of the boot, thimble and wheelbarrow? Well those days are no longer, as the three unloved tokens have got the boot from the latest edition of the board and are being replaced by a Tyrannosaurus rex, a penguin and a rubber duck which will be available in new editions from August. Say [...]
After his appointment as Evening Standard editor, should George Osborne resign as an MP? March 17, 2017 Chris Rumfitt, founder and chief executive of Field Consulting, says Yes. George Osborne’s post-ministerial career had already raised eyebrows when he took a bumper package to advise asset manager Blackrock. But it truly caused jaws to drop when news came through that he was to edit the Evening Standard. While the former chancellor is clearly [...]
Tony Blair launches anti-populist institute which definitely isn’t a party March 17, 2017 Fresh from his rousing anti-Brexit speech, Tony Blair has launched a new institute for centre-ground policy based on globalisation and liberal democracy with the warning: "we could be living through a populist moment; but we could be living at the start of a populist era." Renewing the Centre will be directed by Yascha Mounk, a German-born [...]
Tower Hamlets regains its powers two years after corruption scandal March 17, 2017 Tower Hamlets has had most of its powers returned two years after a corruption scandal that saw its mayor, Luther Rahman, removed from office. Today the department for communities and local government (DCLG) said that Tower Hamlets once again has power over awarding contracts and grants. DCLG also removed one of the four government-appointed commissioners that [...]
Big Ben to the Shard: See how London’s skyline has changed (and what could have been) over 100 years March 17, 2017 In 1930 London's tallest buildings included Battersea Power Station, Big Ben and St Paul's. A century later, those buildings will not only be dwarfed by modern icons like the Shard, the Walkie Talkie and the Cheesegrater, but soon-to-appear 22 Bishopsgate and the Mitsubishi Tower. Then there are the towers that could have been – the [...]
Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein’s pay fell to $22m in 2016 March 17, 2017 Lloyd Blankfein's pay was cut by $1m (£808,000) last year, leaving the Goldman Sachs chief executive with a still sizeable $22m salary. The $22m total includes $2m in cash, a $4m cash bonus and $16m in performance-related stock units. Goldman said its compensation committee had decided to reduce pay for its named executive officers by four to six [...]
Slew of insurance deals are on the cards for 2017 as Solvency II bites March 17, 2017 Dealmaking in the insurance sector will shift into top gear in 2017 as the need to set aside regulatory capital "forces companies to grow or go", according to a report by experts. Nearly all firms (94 per cent) surveyed by accountancy firm KPMG expect to make at least one divestiture during 2017, with the lion's share (84 [...]