Self-isolating Boris Johnson says he’s ‘fit as a butcher’s dog’ November 16, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted he is as “fit as a butcher’s dog” despite self-isolating after coming into contact with someone infected by coronavirus. Johnson said he would keep running the government via Zoom, while ministers said the PM was in good health. On Thursday, the Prime Minister spent around 35 minutes with Tory [...]
Arcadia taking ‘appropriate steps’ amid second lockdown but denies administration November 16, 2020 Sir Philip Green’s retail empire Arcadia has said it is taking “all appropriate steps” to mitigate the impact of a second lockdown and hit back at claims it is about to enter into administration. The second lockdown in England comes at a precarious time as retailers prepared for the Christmas period hoping to salvage the [...]
PNC to buy Spanish bank BBVA’s US arm for nearly $12bn November 16, 2020 PNC Financial Services confirmed this morning that it would buy the US arm of Spanish bank BBVA in one of the largest mergers in the sector in recent history. The deal will see the Pittsburgh-based company splash out $11.6bn (£8.8bn) for BBVA’s assets, creating a bank with around $560bn in assets. As a result of [...]
Boris Johnson to roll out string of new policies in bid to reset government November 16, 2020 Boris Johnson will roll out a series of policy announcements over the next two weeks in a bid to reset his government after the tumultuous exit of his top two advisers. Number 10 announced last night that Johnson – who is currently self-isolating after having had a meeting with an MP who tested positive – [...]
Gap between rich and poor grows despite jump in savings ratio November 16, 2020 The wealth gap between rich and poor people in the UK is widening as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns, according to an Oxford-based think tank. Research from the Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics has found that a third of British people now have less than £1,500 in the bank, [...]
Treasury opens bidding process for first seven post-Brexit Freeports November 16, 2020 From today, the Treasury will start accepting bids from cities and towns across England for the first seven Freeports, which are to be created in 2021. Ultimately, the government aims to establish 10 Freeports across the UK, the Treasury confirmed this morning. Areas given Freeport status will be given a range of tax reliefs, including on purchasing [...]
Grow your audience or double down? The classic mistake made by Brand Trump November 16, 2020 As marketers know well, big ambitious brands cannot continue to grow by simply targeting the same people with the same messages. There comes a point in every major brand’s life when new audiences are needed to grow a following. Somehow, the Trump campaign ignored this, and the President’s failure to understand the need to expand [...]
Restrictions confusion and lockdown fears stunt white collar job openings November 16, 2020 Regional tiered restrictions confusion and rumours of a national lockdown stalled white collar hiring in October, with contract vacancies dropping -1%, according to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo). The latest data found that while month-on-month vacancy numbers saw little to no change, the year-on-year percentage drop slightly increased for October following several months [...]
The biggest loser in the US election: The idea of the loyal opposition November 16, 2020 Edward R. Murrow, the greatest of all American newsmen, got it exactly right about the essence of the miracle of American political stability: “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.” Before our very eyes, the aftermath of the election of 2020 [...]
In tearing up America’s democratic norms, Donald Trump leaves behind a poisonous legacy November 15, 2020 As I write this, with the states of Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina circling around him, the first term of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States is about to come to a shattering end. Notice that I said first term. For there is little doubt that the Republican Party remains [...]