Rebel peers are confident of amending Theresa May’s Article 50 Bill in the House of Lords February 12, 2017 Rebel peers are confident of amending the Article 50 Bill with protections for EU nationals once the legislation arrives in the House of Lords. The Bill, which grants Prime Minister Theresa May the power to trigger Brexit talks, was passed unamended by the House of Commons last week. But both the Lib Dems and Labour have [...]
British film and TV industries storm ahead with £1.6bn investment February 12, 2017 Spend on British film and TV production jumped 13 per cent in 2016 to 1.6bn, in a stellar year for the UK’s creative industries. Figures from the BFI showed that 48 major UK-based films accounted for 1.35bn of total investment. Last year’s top three grossing films at the UK box office were all filmed on [...]
Klimt painting set to fetch more than £45m at auction February 12, 2017 A painting by Gustav Klimt is expected to sell for at least £45m at auction next month. The 1907 landscape, entitled ‘Bauerngarten’, will go up for sale at Sotheby’s in London on 1 March. It was previously sold at Christie’s for $5.8m in 1994, and appeared in a Royal Academy exhibition last year. Works by [...]
Almost 50 Tory MPs are demanding a fast-track visa system for Commonwealth citizens February 12, 2017 Commonwealth countries could be offered a new “fast track” visa system in the aftermath of Brexit, under plans promoted by almost 50 Conservative MPs. In a letter to home secretary Amber Rudd, 45 Tory backbenchers have called for the UK to “extend the hand of friendship to our Commonwealth partners”. The MPs, who include former [...]
Flower delivery startup Bloom & Wild is set to blossom with millions in fresh funding February 12, 2017 An innovative London startup delivering flowers has raised millions more in fresh funding to pursue ambitious international expansion. Bloom & Wild has landed £3.75m from German media company Hubert Burda's venture arm and previous investor MMC Ventures, along with other angels. Read more: Hungry House is partnering with a startup to help takeaways deliver more The [...]
John Lewis, Pret and the 30 biggest private companies MPs want held more accountable February 12, 2017 Middle class favourite John Lewis and lunch time hotsport Pret a Manger are just two of Britain's most well-known businesses which could be subject to a stricter code of governance traditionally reserved for Britain's top public companies. Under new proposals suggested by a group of MPs, 30 of Britain's biggest privately owned companies would have to set [...]
After BHS: MPs eye stricter transparency rules for private companies February 12, 2017 The UK's biggest private companies and those with large pension schemes should have to abide by the same financial reporting rules as listed firms to ensure the fallout from the collapse of BHS is not repeated, MPs have said. Any private company with more than 5,000 members of a defined benefit pension scheme, or those defined as large [...]
Three important things we learned from Jean-Claude Juncker this weekend on the future of Europe, Trump and Brexit February 12, 2017 European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has spoken about the future of Europe and his own role within it, in an interview with German radio, and the effect of Trump and Brexit. Here are the three important things he said. 1. Europe is divided – and Britain isn't helping Opinions of both the public in the member [...]
North Korea test-fires ballistic missile as Trump and Abe meet February 12, 2017 North Korea conducted tests of its ballistic missile capabilities early on Sunday morning, as the US President Donald Trump met with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The missile landed in the Sea of Japan and was fired from an area in the west of the secretive country according to South Korean officials. Abe said the launch was "absolutely [...]
Greece won’t accept “illogical” demands from lenders, PM says February 11, 2017 Greece's prolonged bailout review will be completed positively, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said today, but he added Athens will not accept "illogical" demands from lenders. Speaking to his leftist Syriza party, Tsipras said the review would be completed "without concessions in matters of principle" and warned all sides to "be more careful towards a country that has been pillaged [...]