General Election 2015: WPP founder Sir Martin Sorrell wants a UK version of the Chinese Five Year Plan and an acknowledgement that immigration benefits the economy May 5, 2015 ELECTION COUNTDOWN: 1 DAY TO GO We have been asking a business leader each day to say what policies would entice them to vote for a particular party. SIR MARTIN SORRELL: FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF WPP 1. Articulate a practical overall economic plan covering, among other things, education, infrastructure investment (hard [...]
HSBC boss Stuart Gulliver warns George Osborne or Ed Balls tax hikes could drive bank from UK May 5, 2015 HSBC’S chief executive warned yesterday that the Conservative and Labour parties both risk driving the bank out of the country with tax hikes. The giant lender is looking at moving its headquarters out of the UK after more than 20 years in London, as its global business may be harmed by regulation and taxes. George [...]
London’s General Election: On the trail with Labour’s business star Chuka Umunna May 5, 2015 Our third seat profile sees Charlotte Henry talk to shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna in his Streatham seat. Find the first profile in our series here: Battle for Poplar and Limehouse at the edge of the City Find the second profile here: Lib Dem Bermondsey battler Simon Hughes still going strong Under Ed Miliband’s leadership, Labour’s [...]
Yanis Varoufakis gets official backing but Greek bailout deal proves elusive May 5, 2015 Greece's government yesterday said it backed finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and remained intent on securing extra bailout funding. However, comments from officials suggested talks with creditors may continue to stall ahead of two payments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – one tomorrow and another on 12 May totalling almost €1bn (£0.7bn). “The [...]
Super Mario Draghi: Age of unwinding? – CNBC Comment May 4, 2015 THE PAST few years have seen central banks invested with almost super hero-like powers. Super Mario Draghi might not be one of the characters in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but his powers are almost as impressive as Iron Man’s. And has Iron Man ever pumped so much money into the Eurozone’s financial system that he [...]
General Election 2015: Nicola Sturgeon ups stakes over legitimacy without “Scottish voices” May 4, 2015 Nicola Sturgeon has opened up fresh questions over the legitimacy of the next government if the General Election produces a hung parliament. Speaking on the campaign trail in Dumfries on Sunday the first minister said a government that did not reflect the choice of the Scottish electorate would not be legitimate. "Surely a test of [...]
David Axelrod compares embattled Douglas Alexander to Barack Obama May 4, 2015 Labour's shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, who is battling to cling on to his Paisley and Renfrewshire South seat, has been compared to Barack Obama by the man who was instrumental to the President's two election victories. David Axelrod who served as a senior adviser to Obama and is now working as a consultant for [...]
Nigel Farage accuses pollsters of “voodoo science” when it comes to Ukip May 3, 2015 Nigel Farage has argued that despite pollsters indicating a decline in Ukip's popularity, it is actually “going up in the polls”. During an interview with BBC One's Andrew Marr show, he said there had been a “very desperate attempt to talk Ukip down in recent months”, and that some of the polling organisations of using [...]
Tidjane Thiam will be replaced by Mike Wells as Prudential chief exec May 1, 2015 Prudential has found its successor for departing chief executive Tidjane Thiam – and they haven't had to look too far. Mike Wells, head of the company's US arm Jackson National Life, will step into the role vacated by the popular Thiam, who is leaving to head up Credit Suisse. The 55-year-old will replace a resoundingly popular [...]
Nicola Sturgeon “appalled” by Miliband and says Scotland will never forgive Labour if the Tories form a government May 1, 2015 Nicola Sturgeon has launched a stinging attack on Ed Miliband saying she is "appalled" that Labour has ruled out doing a deal with SNP if the General Election produces a hung parliament. Speaking on a special Question Time programme aired in Scotland, the First Minister said Scotland would never forgive Miliband if the Conservatives were [...]