EDF warns Hinkley Point C costs could rise by nearly £3bn May 12, 2016 EDF has warned that the cost of building two nuclear reactors at Hinkley could be nearly £3bn more than planned, while the start date could be pushed back to 2026. The project, which was previously expected to cost £18bn, is at the heart of the government's energy policy. Britain is facing a supply crunch as its [...]
EU referendum: National Insurance registrations shows immigration to be higher than thought because of short-term migration, ONS says May 12, 2016 The number of non-UK nationals registering for National Insurance (NI) numbers is higher than other official statistics due to short-term migration, long-awaited analysis has shown. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found a large number of people entered the UK for a short period of time (one to twelve months) over the past two years, which [...]
How new London mayor Sadiq Khan can solve London’s startup funding crisis May 12, 2016 I would like to congratulate Sadiq Khan on becoming London’s new mayor and it is encouraging that he claims he will be “the most pro-business mayor London has ever had”. There is a booming startup scene in the capital which, if supported, will benefit our City for generations to come. But success is by no [...]
Former BHS boss Sir Philip Green slams Pensions Regulator chief’s evidence to MPs May 11, 2016 Sir Philip Green yesterday slammed the evidence given by Pensions Regulator boss Lesley Titcomb to a group of MPs investigating the collapse of BHS. Green, former BHS boss and owner of Arcadia Group, said Titcomb's evidence to the work and pensions and business, innovation and skills committees was "incorrect". Titcomb told the committees in a [...]
EU referendum: Osborne attacks leave campaigners for failing to provide post-Brexit facts May 11, 2016 George Osborne has defended the Treasury’s calculations on the impact of leaving the European Union and attacked leave campaigners for trotting out misinformation about the benefits of Brexit. "Every credible international institution has supported the claims we’ve made,” Osborne told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee this afternoon, as he confirmed he will be dishing [...]
EU referendum: Nearly £16m in donations to registered campaigners have been reported to the Electoral Commission May 11, 2016 The Leave camp has raised more than the Remain camp overall so far in the EU referendum. Almost £16m in donations to registered campaigners in the EU referendum has been reported in the first pre-poll donations and loans report, of which more than half was donated to groups backing Brexit. Some £15,639,146 in donations was [...]
London airport expansion: Business groups rally on government again after Heathrow accepts conditions for expansion May 11, 2016 Business groups have jumped on pledges by Heathrow Airport to reduce night flights, as well as curtail noise and pollution, to urge the government to make a decision on aviation expansion after months of dithering. Heathrow Airport today promised to make the concessions if it is allowed to build a new, third runway, ahead of [...]
EU referendum: EU businesses say Brexit will hurt them – but they want a tough stance in any post-Brexit trade negotiations May 11, 2016 Business across Europe want the UK and the EU to agree a trade deal in the event of Brexit — but they think negotiators should take a hard line and impose strict duties and tariff barriers to make the UK pay the price for leaving. Two-thirds of listed companies in Germany, France, Italy and Spain said [...]
EU referendum: Business travellers fear Brexit due to delays at passport control May 11, 2016 Concerns over increased airfares and delays at passport control have caused business travellers to feel uncertain about the prospect of Brexit. New research from DCC Forum found growing concerns among business owners over visa applications for entering countries and increased airfares if Britain leaves the EU. Almost one in five business travellers are worried about delays [...]
EU referendum: Boris Johnson wants the UK to back Brexit to stop funding Spanish bullfighting … but we already have May 11, 2016 Boris Johnson wants the money he says Britain would save from leaving the European Union to help fund the NHS, rather than going towards Spanish bullfighting. The Uxbridge MP and former Mayor of London made the claim on BBC Breakfast this morning, as he said a slice of Britain's £8.5bn net contribution to the EU was being pumped into the [...]