FCA will ‘keep its eyes’ on banks’ Q1 results for evidence of savings rate profiteering April 20, 2023 Savers are facing a rising “loyalty penalty” from high street banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned. Customers banking with the UK’s big name lenders are likely to earn less competitive interest rates on their savings over time, while new savers are given more attractive offers, the City watchdog told MPs today. “Harm” from [...]
Capita: Local authority contractor says ‘limited’ data accessed by hackers in recent cyber attack April 20, 2023 Outsourcing firm and government contractor Capita said customer, supplier or colleague data may have been accessed by hackers in a recent cyber attack on the firm. The group – a major contractor for local authorities – said investigations since the hack was discovered on March 31 have shown evidence of a “limited” data breach. It [...]
UK military may break NATO pledges, MPs warn April 20, 2023 The UK’s plan for arming its military is a “broken system” and government ministers may struggle to meet crucial commitments to NATO, a prominent group of MPs has warned. A critical report into the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) plans to buy military equipment found a “cycle of costly delay and failure” and an ignoring of [...]
SNP treasurer Colin Beattie steps down from role after arrest April 19, 2023 SNP MSP Colin Beattie will step down as the party’s treasurer after he was arrested in connection with a police investigation into the party’s finances, he has said. In a statement released through the party, Beattie also confirmed he will be “stepping back” from his role on Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee until the probe has [...]
GSK: Hundreds of workers at British pharma giant to strike in May in pay dispute April 19, 2023 Hundreds of workers at pharmaceutical giant GSK will stage a series of walkouts in May in a dispute over pay. Unite said 750 of its members have voted for strike action after rejecting a 6% pay offer and a one-off lump sum of £1,300, describing it as “significantly below” inflation. Unite said industrial action will [...]
Sunak finally declares childcare agency his wife Akshata Murty holds shares in amid probe April 19, 2023 Rishi Sunak has declared the childcare agency his wife holds shares in as a financial interest as he is investigated over a possible breach of the rules. The delayed list of ministerial interests published on Wednesday contained for the first time a reference to “a number of direct shareholdings” owned by Akshata Murty. The Prime [...]
Sadiq Khan slams private landlords profiteering from shoddy London homes April 18, 2023 The Mayor of London has slammed thousands of private landlords who are pocketing the rent and housing benefits from tenants living in housing riddled with mould and damp, branding it “a scandal”. The reaction came in response to New City Hall analysis which shows that across the country, landlords are collecting £9bn a year in [...]
Minister Paul Scully ‘considering’ running for London mayor in 2024 April 18, 2023 Minister for London Paul Scully said today he is “considering” running against Sadiq Khan to be the next London mayor in 2024. Speaking at a Centre for London event today, Scully said: “Let me tackle this head on, am I considering running for London mayor in 2024? Yes, I am considering it. I haven’t made [...]
Two Russian fighter jets and a spy plane intercepted by RAF after flying near Nato airspace April 18, 2023 Two Russian fighter jets and a spy plane flying close to Nato airspace have been intercepted by the RAF. Eurofighter typhoons from the RAF’s IX(B) squadron and the German Air Force’s 71 Richtofen Wing were scrambled to visually identify and intercept the jets as they flew over the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland. One [...]
SNP treasurer Colin Beattie arrested in party finance probe April 18, 2023 The Scottish National Party’s (SNP) treasurer Colin Beattie has been arrested in a police probe into the party’s finances, according to reports. Beattie, 71, is under arrest in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the party, Police Scotland has said, the PA news agency has reported, In a statement, the [...]