Consumer sentiment hits eight-month high despite Brexit uncertainty June 1, 2019 UK consumers reported an improvement in their personal finances and more positive outlook for the year ahead in May, according to the monthly survey by market researchers GfK. The economy has continued to grow slightly thanks to solid demand from households, despite businesses pausing any major investments as they await the latest in the Brexit [...]
HMRC cracks down on number spoofing scams in fight against fraud June 1, 2019 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has put a block in place on numbers that were using spoofing tactics to impersonate genuine tax officials. Fraudsters had been using so-called number spoofing so that when calling people it would appear as HMRC’s actual phone numbers on their display. Read more: City of London Police apologises after diamond [...]
Private renters to save hundreds of pounds as letting fees ban comes into action June 1, 2019 The ban on letting fees has come into force throughout England, two-and-a-half years after the plan was initially unveiled. It is set to save private renters hundreds of pounds, with Citizens Advice claiming that around £234m has been paid out since November 2016, when the government committed to crack down on the fees. Read more: Mortgage [...]
US President Donald Trump endorses ‘excellent’ Boris Johnson to become Prime Minister June 1, 2019 US President Donald Trump has labelled Tory leadership hopeful Boris Johnson as an “excellent” candidate to become the next Prime Minister. Trump said he had been asked for endorsements from a number of candidates ahead of his visit to the UK, in an interview with The Sun, claiming: “I could help anybody”. Read more: Sajid [...]
Tory leadership candidate Hunt warns against ‘hardline Brexit approach’ June 1, 2019 Jeremy Hunt has warned against taking a “hard-line approach” to Brexit talks. The foreign secretary and Tory leadership candidate has suggested it would not resolve the current standoff with Brussels, but instead provoke a “hard-line response”. Read more: Sajid Javid rules out second referendum if he becomes Tory leader He is currently one of 12 [...]
David Cameron takes up role with US artificial intelligence firm June 1, 2019 Former Prime Minister David Cameron has been appointed by US artificial intelligence company Afiniti to chair its advisory board. Cameron has kept a low profile since resigning as Prime Minister following the 2016 EU referendum in which the UK voted to leave, and is one of his most prominent appointments since. Read more: Donald Trump's [...]
Sajid Javid rules out second referendum, general election or revoking Article 50 if he becomes Tory leader June 1, 2019 Sajid Javid has ruled out the possibility of a second referendum if he wins the Tory leadership contest. The current home secretary said it would be “disastrous for trust in politics” in an article penned in Saturday’s Daily Mail. Read more: Poll: Tories face worst election result ever in Brexit slump He also declared that [...]
En+ profit plunges after Trump’s US sanctions bite May 31, 2019 Energy provider En+'s profit and revenue plunged in its first quarter this year after the imposition of US tariffs that were only recently lifted. The aluminium and power giant saw its profit slide 38.7 per cent to $409m (£324m) in the first three months of 2019, with revenue falling 19.1 per cent to $2.8bn. Read more: US [...]
Britain breaks energy record by going coal-free for two weeks May 31, 2019 Today marks a fortnight since the UK energy industry used coal for power generation. Read more: Britain just went 10 days without burning coal for electricity It's now the longest the country has given up on coal-generated energy since the Industrial Revolution. With the introduction of the Climate Change Act in 2008, Britain had set a [...]
Sir Philip Green must stump up extra £50m to save Arcadia from administration May 31, 2019 Sir Philip Green must plough another £50m into the pension scheme of his Arcadia retail empire to prevent it collapsing, it is reported. Read more: Sir Philip Green to close Miss Selfridge's flagship Oxford Street store The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has ordered the Topshop tycoon to add the £50m in addition to £100m his family [...]