Banks agree to protect freedom of expression after Farage furore July 26, 2023 Bank bosses today agreed to protect freedom of expression after they were hauled in for talks with City minister Andrew Griffith following the closure of Nigel Farage’s bank account. In a meeting today with bank bosses in the Treasury, representatives from Natwest, HSBC, Nationwide, Lloyds, Santander and Barclays committed to not ‘debank’ customers because of [...]
Hunt tells banks and energy firms to use profits to support customers and avoid a ‘fiscal intervention’ July 26, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has urged big banking and energy firms to use their profits to help customers with the cost of living crisis, and avoid intervention from the Government. In an article calling on corporations to support the public through Britain’s ongoing economic woes, he appealed to firms to be more responsible, pitching a “social [...]
Nigel Farage calls for entire Natwest board to go after Rose resignation July 26, 2023 Nigel Farage has called on the entire Natwest board to go after chief executive Dame Alison Rose resigned overnight after an extraordinary late-night board meeting – just hours after the bank’s chairman issued a statement offering her their full confidence. Rose outed herself as the source of a BBC story into the finances of Nigel [...]
Business groups cheer plans to speed up planning process for big infrastructure projects July 25, 2023 Top business groups have welcomed government plans to speed up the planning process for key infrastructure projects as a “major signal” on green growth. Ministers want to overhaul the system and create a new fast-track route for major schemes, such as offshore wind farms, transport connections, waste facilities and nuclear power stations. Prime minister Rishi [...]
Tory MPs pile pressure on Sunak to retain green policies July 25, 2023 Senior Tory MPs have warned Rishi Sunak against backing away from policies aimed at tackling climate change. Labour’s loss in the recent Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election has been interpreted by some as a de-facto referendum on the controversial ULEZ expansion. Danny Beales, who lost to the Conservative candidate Steve Tuckwell by just 495 votes, [...]
Taxpayer to hand over £150bn to Bank of England to cover QE losses July 25, 2023 Taxpayers will have to foot a £150bn bill to cover cumulative losses on the Bank of England’s bond buying scheme over the coming decade, a new projection has claimed today. The Treasury is forecast to inject hundreds of billions of pounds into the central bank’s balance sheet to make up for a shortfall in its [...]
Frasers eyes Leeds shopping centre in latest retail property buying spree July 25, 2023 Frasers has reportedly set his sights on an outlet shopping centre in Leeds as it continues on its spree of retail property acquisitions. Frasers Group, which is majority owned by business tycoon Mike Ashley, is looking to pay nearly £50m for Junction 32, which is located in Castleford in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, The Times has [...]
Despite heatwave and wildfires Michael Gove insists Greece is still safe: ‘I’m due to go on holiday there in a week’ July 25, 2023 Housing Secretary Michael Gove said he plans to holiday on a Greek island as he insisted the region is safe for holidaymakers despite fire concerns. He denied to Times Radio that the Foreign Office has taken too relaxed an approach by not issuing advice not to go. “In fact I’m due to go on holiday, [...]
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 [...]