No more ties in the office? Suit yourself in a world beyond workplace dress codes March 12, 2019 “A man cannot dress, but his ideas get clothed at the same time,” wrote Lawrence Stern in Tristram Shandy in 1759. More recently, Caitlin Moran pointed out that when a woman says she has nothing to wear, what she means is “there’s nothing here for who I’m supposed to be today”. Clothes are text. From [...]
The Conservative party needs to rediscover its economic way March 12, 2019 For most people, the Conservative’s 2015 “long-term economic plan” is now a distant memory. But as someone who was deeply immersed in that election campaign, I still sometimes wake up at night reciting its contents. Though much mocked for its repetition, the plan was more than just a catchphrase. From deficit reduction and tax cuts [...]
May prepares to face MPs after last-minute talks with EU March 12, 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May claimed victory in a last-minute round of negotiations with the EU last night, as she set out new legal guarantees over the controversial Irish backstop protocol. Speaking in Strasbourg after a late-night meeting with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, May claimed a new, legally-binding agreement would sit alongside her withdrawal deal [...]
Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey pledges 10 per cent salary cut if he defeats Sadiq Khan in 2020 election March 11, 2019 Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey has vowed to take a 10 per cent pay cut and cap the salaries of his close political advisers if he defeats Sadiq Khan in the 2020 mayoral election. Bailey, who was selected as the Tory choice for mayor last autumn, has pledged to tackle increasing staff costs at City Hall, which he [...]
Forget Brexit, corporate debt is a bigger issue March 11, 2019 As a few of you might have been told many times already, today is the latest Brexit D-Day for the UK, and for Theresa May in particular. Now, despite the fact that I am – at the moment that you are reading this – down on a chilly College Green in Westminster reporting on the latest [...]
Sterling falls as Downing Street admits Brexit talks are ‘deadlocked’ ahead of meaningful vote March 11, 2019 Downing Street has admitted that Brexit talks with the EU have reached a stalemate before Theresa May puts her deal to MPs in another meaningful vote tomorrow, sending sterling to a three-week low. The Prime Minister spent her Sunday night in talks with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after a last-ditch visit to Brussels by the [...]
Tesla hikes vehicle prices as it scales back drastic store closure plan March 11, 2019 Tesla will raise the prices of its high-end vehicles by roughly three per cent as it scales back a controversial plan to close most of its stores. The electric car manufacturer said the price hike will apply to the more expensive variants of the Model 3, as well as Model S and X, but not [...]
Embattled outsourcer Kier shares plunge as ‘accounting error’ reveals higher net debt than previously thought March 11, 2019 Construction outsourcer Kier Group spooked investors on Monday morning as it admitted an 'accounting error' had forced it to recalculate its net debt as £50m higher than previously stated. The firm’s stock fell 13 per cent after it issued an update saying it has revised its net debt position as at 31 December to £180.5m, up from [...]
Senior Tory MPs urge Theresa May to cancel Brexit vote March 11, 2019 Senior Tory MPs have urged Prime Minister Theresa May to cancel tomorrow’s vote on her Brexit deal amid fears she faces another heavy defeat, the Times has reported. Leading Conservatives have told May she should pull the meaningful vote unless she secures major concessions from the EU. Read more: Brexiters dismiss reports they could swing [...]
Futuristic entrepreneurs are helping us reach for the stars March 11, 2019 Houston, there is no problem. America is back in the space race. “We’re really at the forefront,” says US President Trump. “Nobody is doing what we’re doing.” He’s right. But in a break with tradition, the US is now leaning on its entrepreneurs, rather than the Federal Reserve, to fund its interplanetary aspirations. The latest [...]