Defence secretary to pay compensation to Tooting imam over Islamic State claims June 23, 2016 Defence secretary Michael Fallon has issued a public apology to Tooting imam Suliman Gani over claims he supported Islamic State, agreeing to pay Gani compensation, and meet his legal costs. Fallon attacked Gani during the London Mayoral campaign, echoing a claim made by David Cameron in parliament that the imam backed the extremists. The false [...]
Steel pension rule changes should be open to all, says Aon, on the day the British Steel Pension Scheme consultation closes June 23, 2016 Any changes to pension rules should apply across the board and not just to select industries, Aon Hewitt has told the government. The consulting giant has today revealed that, in its response to a Department for Work and Pensions consultation examining possible changes that could be made to the British Steel Pension Scheme, it advised that [...]
I’ve already voted, but I’ve changed my mind – and it’s all to do with house prices… June 23, 2016 I’ve long been a eurosceptic – suspicious of the EU regime and its unelected, barely accountable opacity-swathed ethos. I’m a democrat and a free markets kind of guy who objects to a lurching federal super-state, any hint of a single currency or a loss of our sovereignty. Unelected autocrats in expensed Mercedes doing as they [...]
Chappell took an early “hardship” salary and treated BHS’ money as his own, says former BHS chief executive Darren Topp June 23, 2016 Former BHS chief executive Darren Topp accused Dominic Chappell of treating BHS' money as his own, taking his salary early as a "hardship payment", evidence released by MPs today shows. In a letter to MPs on 21 June, Topp lists occasions when Chappell tried to take the company's money, saying that three-time bankrupt Chappell tried to buy family holiday flights from [...]
UK businesses could be caught out by EU market abuse and insider trading rules June 23, 2016 UK companies are woefully unprepared for the next tranche of financial regulation from Brussels, coming into force in just two weeks, lawyers have warned. Magic circle outfit Linklaters said this week there is a widespread sense that firms do not have enough information and aren’t taking the necessary steps to get ready for the new [...]
Final polls hand Remain the lead as the UK votes on Brexit June 23, 2016 Two of the final polls on the UK's EU referendum has handed the Remain camp a lead over Brexiteers. In an online survey of 4,700 people, undertaken up to midnight on 22 June, Populus reported a 55/45 lead for Remain. The strong lead for the In camp is in marked contrast to other polls, which have [...]
Bad timing? New figures show the UK’s population has tipped past 65m for the first time June 23, 2016 The UK's population has tipped past 65m for the first time, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics. Stats published today showed the mid-year estimate for the UK's population growing by 513,200 to reach 65.1m. The growth is equivalent to a city of the size of Manchester – defined at 503,127 in [...]
#DogsAtPollingStations is the referendum light relief we need June 23, 2016 People are battling rain, lightning, flooding, train chaos and huge queues in some areas to make it to the polling stations to cast their vote in the EU referendum – and so are many a politically minded dog. If there's a vote, you can be sure there'll be dogs at polling stations, or #DogsAtPollingStations that dog owners (and dog lovers in [...]
Sterling spreads its wings to hit 2016 high against the dollar as EU referendum voting kicks off June 23, 2016 Any jitters over the outcome of the EU referendum were well and truly quelled this morning, after sterling soared to hit its highest this year against the dollar, topping $1.49 for the first time since December. The pound was up 1.4 per cent at $1.4911 in late morning trading, while it rose 0.64 per cent against [...]
EU referendum: Betting odds for Remain have soared to 86 per cent, according to Ladbrokes June 23, 2016 The polls have been open since 7am and, though we won't know the outcome until tomorrow, the latest betting odds from major bookies are firmly in favour of Remain. Both Ladbrokes and William Hill's latest odds put Remain in a strong lead, with odds of 1/6, and Leave at 4/1. For Ladbrokes, this is weighted at [...]