Lloyds share sale sparks Treasury rift as George Osborne ignores warning on value for money June 1, 2015 The Treasury is in disagreement with its own advisers over the sale of shares in Lloyds Bank, as George Osborne seeks to fulfil his General Election pledge to sell a large chunk directly to retail investors. The sale could prove popular, but would also mean selling the shares at a discount – reducing the profit [...]
Leaders in late night Greek debt talks fail to break deal deadlock June 1, 2015 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other high-ranking officials met in Berlin late last night to discuss the prospect of a deal for Greece. The country faces a slew of hefty payments in the coming weeks and a real prospect of defaulting on its debt if it is unable to secure a reforms-for-cash deal with creditors [...]
European Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker says Brexit “not desired” by British June 1, 2015 Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, has claimed that Britain will not vote to leave the EU. Juncker said that was confident that a Brexit would not occur, stating that David Cameron's motives in holding a referendum were to make Britain's membership permanent. Speaking to the German newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, he said: Brexit is not [...]
Fancy a buffet with Warren Buffett? World’s most expensive power lunch with the Oracle of Omaha goes under the hammer (again) June 1, 2015 There are some things you can't put a price on, but having lunch with the Oracle of Omaha is not one of them. The annual action to have lunch with billionaire investor Warren Buffett is underway and already bids have risen above $1,000,500. There are three days and several hours left to get [...]
Mike Ashley adds MegaValue.com high street store to Sports Direct business June 1, 2015 Mike Ashley rarely sits still. With his ownership of the beleaguered Newcastle United dominating the headlines, the Sports Direct owner has quietly added a new high street business to his interests. Read more: Rangers and Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has too much power, says IoD The subtly-titled MegaValue.com is a new discount store that recently appeared [...]
Chief executive Jordan Hansell leaves Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway’s luxury jet firm NetJets June 1, 2015 Change is afoot at NetJets, the luxury jet business backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. The chief executive and chairman Jordan Hansell, who has been in the cockpit for four years, has stepped down from both roles with immediate effect. Adam Johnson, who has been at the business for 18 years and is [...]
David Cameron says free childcare to double in 2016 to 30 hours per week for working parent households May 31, 2015 Working parents can look forward to 15 hours of additional free childcare each week as soon as next year, the Prime Minister will say today. David Cameron will announce that the government is bringing forward its plans to increase free childcare for working parents, from 15 hours to 30 hours per week. On [...]
Business leaders reveal Cameron scaled back ambitions for European Union reform May 31, 2015 Business leaders have urged the Prime Minister not to ditch far-reaching plans he once made for the European Union. A new report highlights ten policy areas where David Cameron once claimed he was seeking ambitious reform in the EU. It suggests that a number of these demands, however, have been watered down or even dropped [...]
Sadiq Khan: “aspiration” will be overused in Labour leadership race May 31, 2015 Sadiq Khan has criticised the way Labour politicians are looking back on Tony Blair’s time in office with “rose-tinted glasses”, claiming that the party no longer understands aspiration. The former shadow justice secretary, who resigned after the General Election in order to prepare for his candidacy for London mayor, said that some in his party [...]
Ukip’s only MP says Nigel Farage was wrong with plan to ban HIV-positive immigrants May 31, 2015 Douglas Carswell, Ukip's only MP, has criticised Nigel Farage's comments on immigrants with HIV during the General Election campaign. During the first leaders' television debate, Farage shocked many by saying that the UK should prevent immigrants with life-threatening illnesses like HIV from entering the country. Carswell avoided backing Farage's comments at the time, saying only [...]