A minimum excise tax on cigarettes will hurt lower earners and fuel the black market, British American Tobacco says March 3, 2017 Once again, British American Tobacco (BAT) is pushing back against the government's proposals to create a so-called tax floor ahead of next week's Budget. A minimum excise tax (MET) will set a minimum amount of tax payable on any packet of cigarettes. After former chancellor George Osborne announced plans to instate an MET in 2016, the government now says it will announce [...]
British Airways cabin crew start fresh week-long walkout in dispute with airline over “poverty pay” March 3, 2017 British Airways has remained bullish about flying all customers to their destinations as cabin crew members start the first day of a fresh week-long strike in the ongoing row over "poverty pay". BA said the vast majority of flights to and from London Heathrow will operate as normal, but said a "very small number" of flights will be merged [...]
Analysts react to WPP’s share slide March 3, 2017 WPP posted record revenues in 2016, but the advertising giant's shares fell by more than seven per cent this morning after it warned that economic growth in the year ahead would be "tepid". The media group headed up by Sir Martin Sorrell set a conservative growth estimate of two per cent for revenue and net sales in [...]
Taxi for Uber: High Court rules in favour of TfL saying private hire drivers will have to pass a written English exam March 3, 2017 Uber has lost a key part of its High Court case against Transport for London (TfL), after a High Court ruled private hire drivers will be forced to pass a written English exam. The firm did though, win other parts of its case, so it won't have to provide a telephone call centre for passengers open 24 hours [...]
Angus Energy says its Brockham well could produce more than Horse Hill, home of the Gatwick Gusher March 3, 2017 Shares in Britain's Angus Energy jumped as much as 12 per cent as the market opened today after the firm announced drilling results at its Brockham well "could be even better" than that of the Gatwick Gusher. Shares in the oil firm, which is listed on London's Alternative Investment Market (Aim), were up 6.12 per cent at 13p [...]
Is Audioboom starting to prove doubters wrong? Revenue jumps after advertising stats leap March 3, 2017 Audioboom's share price rocketed more than 15 per cent this morning after revealing its advertising metrics had leapt over the last quarter, with a fourfold increase compared with the same period 12 months ago. The Aim-quoted firm generated 304 million advertising impressions over the last three months to the end of February, compared with 58m one year ago [...]
Rio Tinto appoints a new legal chief after Guinea payments probe sacking March 3, 2017 Rio Tinto has appointed Philip Richards as group chief of legal to replace Debra Valentine, who was removed in November due to a payments probe related to mining rights in Guinea. The company sacked Valentine and former chief executive of energy and minerals Alan Davis for having "failed to maintain the standards expected of them" under Rio [...]
Business activity is growing at its slowest pace since September 2016 March 3, 2017 Business activity is growing at its slowest pace since September 2016, according to a survey of managers, suggesting that UK economic activity has "lost momentum". IHS Markit's purchasing managers' index for the services sector fell to 53.3 in February – any figure below 50 denotes contraction. The measure was down on the month before, when output stood at [...]
The best pint bar none: Camra names Yorkshire local Britain’s pub of the year March 3, 2017 A Yorkshire pub that was saved from extinction by local villagers has been crowned Britain's pub of the year. The award from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) was given to the George & Dragon pub in Hudswell. The pub closed in 2008, and the local community was left with just a village hall. But, [...]
The number of workers on zero-hours contracts hits new high of 910,000 – but the rise is slowing March 3, 2017 The number of people on controversial zero-hours contracts (ZHCs) has reached a record high of 910,000. According to the think tank the Resolution Foundation, which analysed data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), a further 110,000 people were added onto these contracts in 2016; nearly 14 per cent more than 2015 and 30 per cent higher [...]