HMRC’s Covid fraud taskforce to leave billions unaccounted for November 14, 2022 An HMRC unit set up to tackle Covid fraud is set to leave £3.3bn outstanding when it winds down in March 2023, campaigners have warned. The Taxpayer Protection Taskforce, which was set up by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in March 2021, will be phased out, despite having collected less than 25 per cent of the money [...]
Volatile markets and soaring gilt yields could see pensions buy-out boom, analysts say November 14, 2022 The UK could see £200bn worth of pensions buyouts over the next three years as higher gilt yields and increasingly volatile markets boost the attractiveness of bulk purchase annuity deals, analysts have said. The market for bulk purchase annuity deals could show fast paced growth over the next few years as pension funds seek to [...]
Airbus ‘colluded’ with EU authorities over Qatar Airways dispute, court told November 11, 2022 Airbus allegedly colluded with the EU’s aviation safety regulator to ensure the authority supported its position in a dispute it had with Qatar Airways, lawyers for the middle eastern airline told a London court today. Airbus succeeded in “exerting influence” over the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) by providing the regulator with a “line [...]
British barrister to represent democracy activist Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong trial November 11, 2022 A Hong Kong appeals court has upheld a decision to let British barrister Tim Owen KC represent newspaper owner Jimmy Lai in an upcoming trial of the entrepreneur over alleged breaches of the Hong Kong’s controversial national security law. Jimmy Lai is set to face trial in December over claims his publication of his pro-democracy [...]
Ever Given’s blocking of Suez Canal shows threat posed by global warming, Marsh says November 10, 2022 The blocking of the Suez Canal by the cargo ship Ever Given shows the threat climate change poses to the global economy, according to a new report from the world’s largest insurance broker Marsh. Rising sea levels and an uptick in extreme weather events could wreak havoc on global supply chains by disrupting key shipping [...]
Frozen Russian assets should act as ‘wake up call’ for UK government, campaigners say November 10, 2022 The billions in Russian assets frozen by UK authorities since the start of the war in Ukraine should act as a “wake up call” to the British government, to ensure it never allows a “kleptocratic regime” access to the country’s economy again, campaigners have said. The record £18.39bn in assets frozen by the UK’s [...]
BP oil trader loses employment lawsuit after being stripped of whistleblowing protection November 10, 2022 A BP oil trader has lost an employment lawsuit against the firm after a tribunal ruled he was not entitled to whistle-blower protections. Jonathan Zarembok, who was fired from his job after flagging concerns about potential bribes being paid to Nigerian middlemen, claimed he was forced out unfairly. He raised concerns about “abnormally large” fee [...]
Barclays faces court over £40m breast implant scandal November 9, 2022 Barclays today faced claims it helped a private healthcare company avoid paying compensation to women given faulty breast implants by a private healthcare firm. The bank is accused of working with Midlands law firm The Wilkes Partnership to restructure Hospital Medical Group (HMG), in order to help it avoid paying compensation to women given faulty [...]
Lisa Osofsky to step down as SFO director in August 2023 November 9, 2022 Lisa Osofsky is set to leave her position as director of the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in August 2023 after completing a five-year stint at the fraud investigation agency. Osofsky told staff she will serve her full tenure before leaving the agency, according to an internal message sent out by the SFO chief. In [...]
Barclays told to pay £1m to more than 1,000 mortgage customers over PPI breaches November 9, 2022 The UK’s competitions watchdog has ordered Barclays to pay up to £1m in compensation to at least 1,000 of its mortgage customers, over its failure to comply with rules around Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) policies. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Barclays should pay compensation to as many 1,306 of its mortgage customers, [...]