Ulez charge has added £41m to TfL coffers since April October 28, 2019 More than £40m has been raised from Sadiq Khan’s air pollution levy in the scheme’s first six months. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Transport for London (TfL), sent by car selling comparison website Motoway.co.uk, revealed 2.1m Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) charges were purchased by drivers up to 31 August. Read more: Ulez [...]
Virgin Galactic shares blast off as Sir Richard Branson’s firm makes New York Stock Exchange debut October 28, 2019 Sir Richard Branson’s space tourism venture, Virgin Galactic, has taken off on the New York Stock Exchange this afternoon, with shares soaring more than eight per cent in early trading. The company completed a merger with a US investment vehicle late on Friday, making it the first commercial space venture to go public. Branson, who [...]
New rules announced to help UK mortgage prisoners October 28, 2019 The City watchdog has removed barriers to help trapped mortgage customers switch to a better deal. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today confirmed the introduction of new rules to help so-called mortgage prisoners, which are consumers who would benefit from switching but are unable to change to a more affordable mortgage despite being up-to-date with [...]
Britannia Hotels tops list of worst UK hotel chains for seventh year October 28, 2019 Britannia Hotels has been named the worst hotel chain in the UK for the seventh year in a row as guests slammed it for poor cleanliness and value for money. Customers gave the hotel chain, which has 61 venues across the UK, one star ratings in almost every category. Read more: Profit dips at Whitbread [...]
Deputy mayor set to step down after Westminster call up October 28, 2019 London’s deputy mayor for housing will resign after being selected for a safe Labour seat. James Murray beat out deputy mayor for business Rajesh Agrawal and Ealing North councillor Aysha Raza to be the Labour candidate in Ealing North at the next general election. Read more: ‘Unhappy’ deputy mayors look for Westminster move Current Ealing North [...]
Sorrell’s S4 Capital beefs up analytics division with double acquisition October 28, 2019 Sir Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital today said it has beefed up its data analytics capabilities, unveiling the acquisition of two data companies. The digital marketing firm said it has bought London data firm Conversion Works and South Korean consultancy Datalicious Korea for an undisclosed sum. Read more: Sorrell’s S4 Capital buys Silicon Valley agency Firewood [...]
People’s Vote staff walk out over ‘boardroom coup’ October 28, 2019 Staff at People’s Vote headquarters have staged a mass walkout after two senior figures were sacked in a “boardroom coup”. Campaign director James McGrory and head of communications Tom Baldwin were asked to leave their positions by People’s Vote powerbroker and Open Britain chairman Roland Rudd last night. Read more: People’s Vote power struggle: Two [...]
Labour MP Keith Vaz ‘should be suspended’ for six months after drugs and sex scandal October 28, 2019 Labour MP Keith Vaz is set to be suspended for six months after he was caught paying for sex while the chair of the Home Affairs select committee. The ban, for causing “significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons”, would trigger a recall petition, which could lead to a by-election. [...]
Volkswagen throws down the gauntlet to Silicon Valley on self-driving cars October 28, 2019 Europe’s biggest car manufacturer has shifted its fight against Silicon Valley’s nascent self-driving car industry up a gear. Volkswagen has announced the foundation of Volkswagen Autonomy, or VWAT, its own self-driving tech subsidiary, to take on the likes of rivals such as Google’s Waymo. Read more: Car alarm: Half of UK consumers fear driverless vehicles [...]
Orla Kiely collapse ‘sparked by US expansion’ October 28, 2019 The collapse of fashion brand Orla Kiely was sparked by the retailer’s attempt to expand in the US, according to the latest administrators report. Kiely Rowan, the parent company of the clothes and homeware designer, collapsed into liquidation in September last year. Read more: Orla Kiely shuts up shop A progress update by administrators Quantama [...]