Nigel Farage receives apology from BBC over Coutts account closure reporting July 24, 2023 The BBC has apologised to Nigel Farage for suggesting he lacked the funds needed to hold an account at Coutts after the private bank cut ties with the former Ukip leader. The BBC’s business editor Simon Jack made the apology after a story published by the corporation suggested Mr Farage had his account shut for [...]
‘Docklands 2.0’: Michael Gove outlines vision for new higher density London July 24, 2023 Michael Gove has outlined the government’s vision to create a “Docklands 2.0” in a key speech on housing policy, calling for higher density urban development. The housing and levelling up secretary cited the “ambitious approach” of Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine and warned housing “inefficiency” is costing Britain’s productivity. It comes as the prime minister [...]
Elon Musk bids adieu to the Twitter bird as social media giant rebrands to ‘X’ July 24, 2023 Twitter owner Elon Musk revealed the social media giant will bid farewell to its famous blue bird, as a new “X” logo was unveiled this week, in a bid to transform it into an “everything app”. The billionaire Tesla boss announced the revamp, tweeting his desire to “bid adieu” to the Twitter brand and, gradually, [...]
S4 Capital shares plummett almost 20 per cent after Sir Martin Sorrell’s firm hit by tech slowdown July 24, 2023 Sir Martin Sorrell’s digital marketing giant S4 Capital provided a disappointing update for the second quarter, as its shares plummeted off the back of a tech slowdown. The company said its net revenue was below budget in the last few months due to the economic climate, with the technology sector hit particularly hard. Following the [...]
Sunak vows to meet one million new homes promise amid shortfall warnings July 24, 2023 Rishi Sunak has vowed his government will meet a Conservative manifesto pledge to build one million new homes before the end of this parliament. The Prime Minister made the promise ahead of a speech by housing and levelling up secretary Michael Gove on measures to slash red tape on loft conversions and extensions. It comes [...]
Bank bosses to discuss account closures with Treasury – reports July 23, 2023 Bosses of the UK’s major banks and financial firms have been called in for a meeting with City minister Andrew Griffith over the closing of bank accounts. According to a report from the BBC, the Treasury has drafted a letter to banks saying the issue of “client de-banking” had raised “significant concern” in parliament. Griffith [...]
Bring Commonwealth Games to London, says capital business body July 23, 2023 London is the “ideal city” to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, a top business lobby body has said. The £3.5bn, 12-day event was meant to be held in the Australian state of Victoria but premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the region had pulled out after costs tripled. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said London “stands [...]
Relax some net zero measures, says Michael Gove July 23, 2023 Top Conservative minister Michael Gove has called for some net zero measures to be relaxed as he warned against green policies becoming a “religious crusade”. Gove’s intervention came in the wake of a Labour defeat in the Uxbridge by-election which saw the victorious Conservative MP Steve Tuckwell run a single-issue campaign opposing the ULEZ rollout. [...]
Sadiq Khan is open to tweaking ULEZ expansion – but won’t scrap it July 23, 2023 Sadiq Khan is prepared to review the expansion of the ULEZ policy, but remains committed to delivering it, City A.M. understands. The London mayor has faced criticism after opposition to his plans to roll out the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) across the capital played into the Uxbridge by-election defeat. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer [...]
Labour must ‘learn lesson’ of Tories using ULEZ by-election attack July 22, 2023 Sir Keir Starmer has warned Labour must “learn the lesson” of seeing the ULEZ policy used against it following a narrow defeat in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election. The Labour leader said there was “something very wrong” when a policy was on “each and every Tory leaflet” following attacks on London mayor Sadiq Khan’s [...]