Pennies saved as Philip Hammond sets up committee to protect access to cash May 3, 2019 Cash machines will be protected by a new government-led committee, Philip Hammond will announce today as he unveils a new taskforce to safeguard access to physical money. The Treasury-led group will coordinate work across the country to ensure people can still get to their cash in an increasingly digital payment focused economy. The Chancellor will [...]
Margaret Thatcher voted top Prime Minister on 40th anniversary of her first election win May 3, 2019 Margaret Thatcher has been ranked as the UK’s greatest post-war Prime Minister in a survey marking the 40th anniversary of her first election victory. Read more: CBI expresses 'deep concern' at prospect of Prime Minister Boris Johnson A Yougov poll placed Thatcher top of the pile, with 21 per cent of respondents saying she was [...]
Tech will disrupt the City more than Brexit May 2, 2019 The City’s roof gardens may be opening up for the summer but the fog of Brexit still hangs over the Square Mile. Businesses have been unequivocal about the consequences of uncertainty but the policy debate rages on, while political manoeuvring (or even the lack of it) tests the collective patience of the nation. You’d be [...]
Corbyn’s past just keeps tripping him up May 2, 2019 The charge sheet is grim. He defended a mural depicting hook-nosed Jewish bankers playing monopoly on the backs of the poor. He claimed Israel exerts “unbelievably high levels of influence” over “the upper echelons of parts of the media”. He presides over a party struggling to deal with complaints of antisemitism among its members and [...]
London startup Checkout.com raises $230m in Europe’s largest ever fintech series A May 2, 2019 London-based fintech firm Checkout.com has raised $230m (£176.6m) from investors Insight Partners and DST Global, marking the largest European early-stage fintech raise to date. It is also the largest series A fintech fundraise globally of all time. Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, Blossom Capital, Endeavor Catalyst and other strategic investors also participated in the round. With [...]
London jumps to second in global ranking of best cities to invest in May 2, 2019 London has overtaken Hong Kong to take second place in a global ranking of cities with the most investment potential. London rose to second place in the index compiled by asset manager Schroders, up from third place in 2017 and eighth place in 2016. Its position in the table has been boosted by strong employment [...]
Former energy minister Greg Barker receives £3m bonus for Russian sanctions deal May 2, 2019 Former UK energy minister Greg Barker pocketed £3m-£4m for his role in the ending of US sanctions on Russian metals giant En+, according to insiders. Read more: Lord Barker takes time out for Russia’s En+ Barker, a Conservative party politician and member of the House of Lords, helped convince US President Donald Trump to lift [...]
UBS shareholders revolt against leadership over €4.5bn French tax fraud fine May 2, 2019 UBS shareholders have refused to approve the performance of the bank’s leadership following a €4.5bn tax evasion fine. The Swiss banking giant was issued the fine by a French court in February after being found guilty of laundering the proceeds of tax evasion. Read more: UBS fined €4.5bn in French tax fraud trial but vows [...]
Guilty until proven innocent? May 2, 2019 The brutal but surgical dismissal of Gavin Williamson, the secretary of state for defence, came like a sudden bolt from a clear blue sky. The Huawei leak scandal had been brewing for a while, but Whitehall veterans assumed, as did many, that it would go the way of a thousand government leak inquiries before it; [...]
US attorney general William Barr ducks Mueller report hearing amid calls to quit May 2, 2019 US attorney general William Barr has refused to appear in front of the House Judiciary Committee today, after facing a grilling in the Senate yesterday over his handling of the Mueller report. In a statement released yesterday, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice said that it was in part the Judiciary committee's decision to have a [...]