Speedy Hire chairman Jan Astrand survives Toscafund’s attempts to oust him as investors vote in his favour September 9, 2016 Speedy Hire shareholders have voted to appoint David Shearer to the board and to keep Jan Astrand as chairman at its annual general meeting (AGM). Over 63 per cent of shareholders voted against the resolution to remove Astrand, with 35.56 per cent voting in favour of the resolution. Meanwhile, 52.84 per cent of the equipment rental firm's investors [...]
Theresa May is lifting ban on selective schools as she announces £50m government funding for grammar schools September 9, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May is relaxing the ban on selective schools, in controversial plans opposed by Labour and the outgoing Ofsted chief inspector, which will also see grammar schools given government funding for expansion. May said in a major speech today that it is "completely illogical to make it illegal to open good new schools". [...]
Three former Tesco executives have been charged by the SFO in relation its accounting scandal September 9, 2016 Three former Tesco executives have been charged with fraud by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in relation its accounting scandal. The ex-financial director Carl Rogberg, former commercial director John Scouler and the former UK managing director Christopher Bush have been charged for their role in the retailer's profit overstatement. They have each been charged with one count of [...]
Sugar tax: George Osborne’s soft drinks levy has been slammed again after new data suggests soft drink sugar consumption is falling September 9, 2016 George Osborne's sugar tax has been slammed again today after new data released as part of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey showed the consumption of sugar from soft drinks is falling. In all but one demographic group, men aged 19-64, in the NDNS research, soft drinks are now a smaller contributor to sugar intake than in [...]
John Lewis boss confirms he is standing for Mayor of the West Midlands September 9, 2016 John Lewis' boss Andy Street has unmasked his ambition to become the mayor of the West Midlands. The retail head will stand as a Conservative candidate – in an area where all but one of the local authorities are run by Labour – and has said he will step down as the John Lewis chief if [...]
Elon Musk just went on a mini rant about the SpaceX Falcon fireball September 9, 2016 Tesla founder and tech-world entrepreneur Elon Musk has been on a mini-rant today about the explosion that engulfed his SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket last week. Musk's SpaceX is a space tourism company that is aiming to take humans to Mars by 2025. But the forward-looking group suffered a major setback during pre-launch testing last week, when it [...]
UK public expectations for interest rate hike falls to record low level September 9, 2016 The proportion of British people expecting an interest rates rise in the next year has fallen to a record low, a Bank of England survey has shown. The poll of more than 2,000 people aged 16 and over was conducted between 8 and 9 August, shortly after the Bank cut rates to 0.25 per cent. [...]
The cause of London’s Great Plague has been confirmed from DNA taken from a Crossrail site September 9, 2016 Researchers have used DNA testing to confirm the cause of London's 1665-1666 Great Plague using skeletons from a Crossrail site near Liverpool Street station. An analysis of DNA from 20 skeletons excavated from a suspected Great Plague burial pit at the Bedlam burial ground, at the New Churchyard, found a significant proportion of the samples [...]
UK’s trade deficit narrows in July as the weak pound cheers exporters September 9, 2016 A weak pound may be bad news for holiday makers – but exporters were celebrating in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, new data has suggested. In fact, tumbling sterling pushed exports up to such a degree that the UK's trade deficit narrowed by £1.1bn to £4.5bn in July, the first full month after the EU [...]
The number of jobs available in London has fallen by 20 per cent September 9, 2016 The number of London-based jobs available has fallen by 20 per cent since this time last year. According to data from recruitment consultancy Morgan McKinley, there has been a four per cent month-on-month increase in the number of jobs and a four per cent increase in London professionals seeking jobs. Morgan McKinley said this was "remarkable" given the recent Brexit vote. Read more: [...]