Trump pardons ex-media mogul Conrad Black after flattering biography May 16, 2019 Donald Trump has pardoned ex-media mogul and convicted fraudster Conrad Black just a year after he penned a flattering biography of the US President. Black, the former owner of the Daily Telegraph, served three-and-a-half years in prison in the US for plotting to embezzle millions of dollars from his newspaper empire. Read more: The i [...]
The Brexit Party genie cannot be stuffed back into the bottle May 16, 2019 It was said of the French Bourbons during the Restoration following the Revolutionary and Napoleonic interregnum that “they had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing”. Utterly oblivious to how France had changed since Louis XVI had been driven from the throne, his relatives proceeded to attempt to roll back the clock and restore their vision of [...]
Let’s celebrate the British contrarians bold enough to challenge the status quo May 16, 2019 It is easy to spot the ruthless persecution of individuals who challenge the status quo in countries like Venezuela and Cambodia, where dissent is violently silenced by autocrats. Yet in modern Britain, we too are adept at suppressing it ourselves, with offence-taking used as tool to shut down discussion. However, there are a handful that eschew [...]
Huawei lashes out at US as President Donald Trump declares tech emergency May 16, 2019 Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has said it is willing to work with the Trump administration after it was slapped with a ban on buying components from US firms without special approvals. Read more: Huawei snaps up top Sky News journalist as senior spin doctor US President Donald Trump yesterday also signed an executive order which [...]
Two-thirds of small businesses say government is not on their side, new poll reveals May 16, 2019 Two-thirds of small businesses do not feel the government is on their side, a new survey has revealed in a report calling for a radical shake-up of the tax system. A YouGov poll for the Centre of Policy Studies think-tank shows 62 per cent of small business owners and managers don’t believe those in power [...]
London businesses ‘unaware’ of improvements to apprenticeship levy May 16, 2019 Only a quarter of London businesses are aware of the improvements to the apprenticeship levy that were announced in the Spring Statement, new research shows. In March the government announced that from April employers would see the co-investment rate the pay for apprentices cut from 10 per cent to five per cent. Read more: Apprenticeship [...]
Non-Standard Finance pushes forward with £1.3bn hostile takeover of Provident May 15, 2019 Sub prime lender Non-Standard Finance has dropped the number of acceptances needed to push forward with its £1.3bn hostile takeover of rival firm Provident Financial. NSF said in a statement that its offer was now unconditional in terms of acceptances by investors, with 5 June the last date on which the takeover may be declared [...]
Launch of $2.5bn Asian bond a ‘vote of confidence’ in London Stock Exchange May 15, 2019 A $2.5bn (£1.9bn) bond from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was welcomed by the London Stock Exchange (LSE) today, with its launch dubbed “a vote of confidence in the UK”. Read more: London Stock Exchange boosts income and notes improved listing environment The five-year bond will list on the LSE’s main market on 17 [...]
Labour hand Theresa May a Brexit deal lifeline by refusing to vote down her plan May 15, 2019 Theresa May has been handed a Brexit lifeline by Labour after the opposition did not confirm it would vote against her deal when it returns to parliament next month. The Prime Minister is set to try to get a victory for her plan at the fourth time of asking when she puts the Withdrawal Agreement [...]
Global stocks reverse falls after reports Trump will delay auto tariffs May 15, 2019 Global stock markets have rallied after US President Donald Trump was reported to be planning to delay tariffs on car imports by up to six months. Read more: US stocks fall as industrial sector contracts for third time in four months Investors had been in sell-off mode amid heightened trade tensions between the US and [...]