Britain’s hostility to international students puts trade deals at risk September 13, 2018 Some 11 years ago, in parliament, I personally spearheaded the change in rules to allow international students to automatically stay on in Britain and work for two years after graduation. Sadly, this was removed by the government in 2012, under the then home secretary Theresa May. Today, that inward-looking attitude hasn’t changed. This week, the [...]
John McDonnell would hound gig workers out of their jobs with his socialist dystopia September 13, 2018 Since becoming shadow chancellor, John McDonnell has worn the appearance of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This week, he reverted to type as a wolf in wolf’s clothing. His speech at the TUC Congress on the gig economy shouldn’t surprise us. This is, after all, a man who waved Mao’s Little Red Book when he [...]
Debenhams share price falls as House of Fraser merger talk is dampened September 13, 2018 Shares in Debenhams fell by five per cent this morning, wiping out most of the gains made yesterday amid speculation that Sports Direct could merge the struggling retailer with House of Fraser. Read more: Sports Direct board 'mulled Debenhams and House of Fraser merger' The comments were made by an outgoing board member at the [...]
Gordon Brown: World ‘sleepwalking’ to another financial crisis September 13, 2018 The world is “sleepwalking” into another financial crisis, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today, but said it lacks the international will to quickly recover. Read more: A decade on, hubris is the lesson to learn from the Lehman tragedy Brown issued the warning in the week marking the 10th anniversary of the collapse of [...]
Mike Ashley must end the Sports Direct clowning if he is to be the high street’s hero September 13, 2018 Emptying his pockets of wads of £50 notes at a security check, telling a select committee about vomiting in a fireplace at board meetings – Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley is clearly not afraid of theatre. Against type, he has now chosen to play the part of white knight of the high street, but yesterday’s [...]
Crossrail chairman Terry Morgan says he will not step down in wake of Elizbeth Line delay September 12, 2018 Crossrail chairman Terry Morgan has said he will not step down in the wake of the nine-month delay to the Elizabeth Line. The £15.4bn project was scheduled to open in December this year but has been put back until Autumn 2019 following delays to signalling testing and safety concerns. The delay was roundly criticised by [...]
Spirits in the sky: JD Wetherspoon axes Jägermeister and French brandy in post-Brexit plan September 12, 2018 JD Wetherspoon is ditching European spirits such as Jägermeister for non-EU equivalents in a bid to lower prices across its 880 UK pubs. Replacing the ousted continental brands, which also include French brandies Courvoisier VS and Hennessy Fine de Cognac, will be US drink E&J Brandy, Australia’s Black Bottle and Strika, a herbal liqueur produced [...]
JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon: ‘I could beat Trump… because I’m as tough as he is, I’m smarter than he is’ September 12, 2018 The chief executive of bank JP Morgan today claimed he could beat US President Donald Trump in an election. "I think I could beat Trump… because I'm as tough as he is, I'm smarter than he is," he said. Dimon, 62, who has previously ruled out a presidential run, said today that as a rich [...]
Sorrell lays out expansion plans for new advertising venture S4 Capital ahead of market comeback September 12, 2018 Ad guru Sir Martin Sorrell today laid out ambitious plans to expand new venture S4 Capital after it starts trading shares later this month, in a move which could step on the toes of his former employer WPP. The founder of the advertising goliath is using a shell company, Derriston Capital, to launch his new business [...]
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell warns City: ‘People want change… get used to it’ July 30, 2018 It’s fair to say that John McDonnell does not see the world in quite the same light as most City workers. During the first Budget after he became shadow chancellor, McDonnell quoted from Chairman Mao’s Little Red Book, before flinging it at his then-counterpart George Osborne. Years earlier, he was caught on camera saying he [...]