EU referendum: Bookies’ odds show increasing probability of Brexit October 28, 2015 The debate before the upcoming In/Out European Union referendum is hotting up, with polls showing results are likely to be increasingly close. And odds at one bookmaker is changing in response, with Betfair suggesting customers have been backing a UK exit from the EU. Read more: Report: Britain is the least "European" nation in the EU The [...]
Chuka Umunna and Vince Cable call for an end to “all-white” FTSE 100 boards October 28, 2015 Former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna and former business secretary Vince Cable are calling on the government to set a target to eliminate "all-white" boards at Britain's blue-chip companies. Umunna and Cable said today that ethnic diversity among directors has "gone into reverse" and the government should step in. “Today, there are just four non-white CEOs [...]
Iron ore price falls back below $50 mark for the first time in three months October 28, 2015 Iron ore fell below the $50 mark for the first time since July, as concerns over oversupply from China deepened, against a backdrop of falling global demand. Ore with 62 per cent content for immediate delivery to China slumped three per cent to $49.95 this morning, according to Metal Bulletin. Iron ore, a steelmaking raw material, [...]
EU referendum: Why the Brexit debate is a spark of hope for Europe, German pragmatism and British opposition should combine to prevent incompetent and unaccountable leadership October 28, 2015 The Brussels elite, not to mention the Paris political coterie, is once again expressing weariness at British criticism of the European Union. The diverse objections of the different Eurosceptic groups in Britain, seem to them, to confirm incompatibility of the UK with the EU. If Europe à la carte were at the heart of the [...]
AB InBev confirms SABMiller takeover financing as deadline on megabrew deal formal offer extended October 28, 2015 AB InBev and SABMiller have been given another week to put together their megabrew merger deal, as the Takeover Panel agreed to extend the deadline for a formal offer. But worry not: Despite the extension, AB InBev has reassured shareholders that the deal is still firmly on track, confirming it has the financing for the [...]
Why London doesn’t need tech unicorns October 28, 2015 It’s no secret that the last few years have seen an enormous influx of venture capital flowing into the tech sector, but 2014 set new records. While this may be less surprising across the pond, funding for European tech companies actually grew faster than any other region globally, increasing 78 per cent last year according [...]
The future of democracy must be digital: Our voting system needs to be modernised with electronic voting October 28, 2015 Yesterday’s Lords vote on the government’s move to speed up electoral registration changes should put the issue of voter turnout and participation firmly back on the agenda. The debate cannot end there. The new voter registration measures end the system under which the head of the household can sign up all its residents at once. [...]
Entrepreneurs need a stable tax policy landscape to thrive October 28, 2015 THE cut and thrust of politics may not matter all that much to entrepreneurs. But policies certainly do – particularly those related to tax. Some have been a boon for businesses: Entrepreneurs’ Relief and the Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) have been particularly welcome. The former grants entrepreneurs a 10 per cent tax rate on [...]
EU referendum: Brexit could spell disaster for “brand” Britain risking less foreign investment and international trade October 28, 2015 The current debate about Britain’s future in the EU is a mixture of emotions, exaggeration and nostalgia. Without a pragmatic appraisal of the facts and consequences of the UK leaving the European Union, we could sleepwalk into a disaster. Ultimately, this would be a crisis, which could not only harm British brands but damage brand [...]
Black Friday 2015: What UK retailers need to do to make the most of the retail bonanza on 27 November October 28, 2015 Last year, shoppers in the UK spent a staggering £810m during Black Friday and this year is set to break all previous records. For the first time ever, consumer spending across the nation is forecast to top £1bn in one day, representing an enormous opportunity for UK retailers. The impact of Black Friday for retailers [...]