Hammond slammed for “rookie error” over national insurance contributions March 11, 2017 Chancellor Philip Hammond has been criticised for making a "rookie error" with his plans in increase national insurance contributions for the self employed. Former Conservative chancellor Norman Lamont has raised concerns that Hammond's first spring budget has ruined the party's image for pursuing low-tax policies. The changes will mean up to 1.6m people will face [...]
Ticket touts threatened with unlimited fines March 11, 2017 Ticket touts who bulk buy music concert tickets and them re-sell them online will be hit with unlimited fines under new government plans. The department for culture, media and sport (DCMS) is making it illegal for touts to hack ticket-buying websites to buy more than the maximum amount of concert tickets normally available to consumers. [...]
Tesco chairman: White men are an ‘endangered species’ on UK boards March 11, 2017 The chairman of Tesco, John Allan, has warned white men everywhere that they are an "endangered species" on UK boards and that to get to the top they are going to have to work "twice as hard" as women and ethnic minorities. Despite sitting three executive boards himself (he is also chairman of Barratt Developments, and [...]
Volkswagen pleads guilty to US charges in emissions scandal March 11, 2017 Volkswagen has pleaded guilty to three US charges relating to the emissions scandal that emerged in 2015. The German company's lawyer Manfred Doss said VW had committed criminal acts in both Germany and the United States, and admitted that cars were fitted with software that allowed them to cheat emissions tests over six years. Read more: [...]
Will legally separating BT and Openreach be enough to give broadband customers a better deal? March 10, 2017 Kate Devine, head of home communications at MoneySuperMarket, says Yes. Legally separating BT and Openreach should be seen as a victory for broadband customers. It will offer a better deal for many, built on the promise to treat all customers equally in terms of repairs and services, in comparison to the current system, which is [...]
“There’s a rat in the room”: Nick Candy claims he has been misportrayed in £132m High Court extortion trial March 10, 2017 Property tycoon Nick Candy told a High Court judge this morning that he has been “misportrayed” in the £132m extortion case against him and his brother Christian Candy. He made the complaint at the end of the fifth week of a trial that has scrutinised the business dealings of two men at the centre of London’s [...]
Elon Musk has another ambitious energy project and this time it’s free March 10, 2017 Elon Musk has risen to the challenge of fixing South Australia’s power crisis in 100 days. If he can’t accomplish the goal within that time? He’ll do it for free. The Tesla executive responded to co-founder of the software company Atlassian, Mike Cannon-Brookes, on Twitter following Tesla vice president Lyndon Rive's own claim that he would [...]
BP’s share price lifts on speculation of a takeover by Exxon Mobil March 10, 2017 Shares in oil major BP have risen today as speculation reemerges about takeover interest from Exxon Mobil, the world's largest listed oil company. Shares in the FTSE 100-listed firm were up 4.01 per cent at 472.2p in late afternoon trading. US-based Exxon Mobil is gauging interest in a potential takeover from BP's major shareholders, it has been reported. Shell and Chevron [...]
BT needs to be able to “hire and fire” Openreach board and had to get the deal done before starting pension negotiations March 10, 2017 BT chief exec Gavin Patterson has said having the ability to “hire and fire” the Openreach board was a red line that the telecoms giant couldn’t cross in agreeing a deal with Ofcom over the future of its infrastructure arm. And breaking the deadlock with regulators over Openreach’s independence was imperative before entering into negotiations with [...]
Guy Verhofstadt wants Britons to keep their EU rights after Brexit March 10, 2017 The top negotiator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, has said Britons should be allowed to keep their EU benefits if they want them. Verhofstadt, former Belgium prime minister, plans to persuade other European leaders that Britons should be allowed to apply for rights such as freedom of movement on an individual basis after Brexit. [...]