CEOs zoom in on ESG and climate change as world enters third pandemic year January 11, 2022 Climate risks dominate global concerns as the world enters the third year of the pandemic, according to a new World Economic Forum report shared with City A.M. today. The Global Risks Report 2022 sets out that while the top long-term risks relate to climate, the top shorter-term global concerns include societal divides, livelihood crises and [...]
A bash while Covid spread: Boris Johnson may face police probe over ‘bring your own booze’ drinks party at Downing Street when household mixing was outlawed January 11, 2022 The Metropolitan Police confirmed it is liaising with the Cabinet Office over damning claims the Prime Minister’s aide organised a “bring your own booze” Downing Street drinks party during the first lockdown, in May 2020. Martin Reynolds, the Prime Minister’s principal private secretary, sent an email to more than 100 Downing Street employees asking them [...]
Local councils secure surplus Westminster funds after overstating Covid-19 budget impact January 11, 2022 England’s local councils severely overshot the amount of money they would need to fund the fight against Covid-19, reveals a new study released today. Councils in England told central government their net spending had swelled £7.8bn as a result of the pandemic. However, analysis by the economic think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) [...]
There’s nothing wrong with plain speaking… January 10, 2022 ONE COMPLAINT of business journalists is that some chief executives, drilled to within an inch of their life by a phalanx of corporate communications professionals, have on occasion been known to not perhaps be the most interesting interview subjects. It’s understandable: one doesn’t get to the top of corporate behemoths, as a rule, by shooting [...]
Leaked email proves Downing Street had lockdown-busting party in May 2020 January 10, 2022 Downing Street staff were invited to a party during the height of lockdown in May 2020 to “make the most of the lovely weather”, a new leaked email has revealed. An email was sent by the Prime Minister’s Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds to more than 100 staff in Number 10, telling them to “bring [...]
TfL finance chief quits post amid financial turmoil for the London transport body January 10, 2022 Transport for London’s (TfL) chief financial officer has resigned amid the transport body’s ongoing financial turmoil. It was announced today that Simon Kilonback will leave his post and join internet provider G.Network, after working at TfL since 2009, in what is another blow to the body as it seeks to secure its financial future. It [...]
Grenfell: Gove tells dodgy developers ‘we are coming for you’ as they’re forced to foot the bill for cladding crisis January 10, 2022 Michael Gove has sent a stark warning to property developers that have profited from installing dangerous cladding, like that was used in the Grenfell tower, telling them that “we are coming for you” as he unveils his plan to make them pay for cladding refurbishments across the UK. Gove told MPs today that the burden [...]
Westminster committee calls for FCA probe into Woodford Fund collapse to finish quickly January 10, 2022 The head of a major Westminster committee has called on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to quickly finish its probe into the collapse of the Woodford Equity Income Fund in 2019. Treasury Select Committee chair and Tory MP Mel Stride today said in a letter to the FCA that he expects the watchdog “to ensure [...]
Tower Hamlets mulls name changes for roads around new Chinese Embassy: Tiananmen Square, Uyghur Court, Hong Kong Road and Tibet Hill January 10, 2022 In response to China’s application to build a new embassy in London, Tower Hamlets Council has voted to consider naming nearby roads and buildings Tiananmen Square, Uyghur Court, Hong Kong Road and Tibet Hill, it has been reported. In a move that is likely to infuriate the Chinese government, local councillors in the London borough [...]
Number 10 calls for ‘restraint’ on MPs pay rise in face of planned £2,000 increase January 10, 2022 Downing Street has today called on parliament’s standards body to “show restraint” and not give MPs a large pay rise in April given the current cost of living crunch faced by families. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is set to increase MPs’ pay by £2,000 on 1 April in line with public sector pay [...]