Why David Cameron’s crusade against encryption could backfire on business January 15, 2015 One so-called expert in terrorism and one person who claims to be able to tackle it embarrassed themselves this week. The first was a hapless Fox News commentator, who had convinced himself that Birmingham was an outpost of the Islamic State, sparking hilarity in the Twittersphere. The second was none other than David Cameron, who [...]
Why Marks & Spencer’s investors haven’t all revolted on Marc Bolland (yet) in two charts January 15, 2015 Marks & Spencer's chief executive Marc Bolland has come in for a pounding yet again, after the retailer revealed another set of dismal results last week. Like-for-likes in general merchandise, which includes clothing, fell 5.8 per cent for the 13 weeks to December 27, the 14th consecutive quarter M&S has recorded declines in this division. [...]
Cheap oil won’t help recovery, warns IMF chief Christine Lagarde January 15, 2015 Cheap oil is unlikely to speed up recovery, International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde has warned, adding that global recovery is currently too "lopsided". In a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, Lagarde suggested that although growth in the US and a lower oil price has given economies a helping hand, [...]
Mike Ashley offers Rangers £10m loan in return for securities on Ibrox January 15, 2015 Mike Ashley appears to have offered flailing Rangers a life-line, but in order to accept the Scottish club's board will have to renege on promises previously made to fans. The Newcastle United owner is ready to provide a £10m loan to the club, but in return will want securities on its Ibrox stadium and [...]
David Cameron wants Twitter and Facebook to help intelligence agencies track down dangerous people January 15, 2015 Later today, Prime Minister David Cameron will try to persuade US President Barack Obama of the need for more cooperation between intelligence agencies and US tech firms like Twitter and Facebook. He will say that public safety is at stake, and that new laws regarding communication via social media platforms should be imposed [...]
JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon: Banks are under assault January 14, 2015 The flood of megafines and regulations being inflicted on banks amounts to an “assault” by a multitude of authorities, JP Morgan’s boss Jamie Dimon claimed yesterday. Such a sustained attack threatens the competitiveness of the US as a whole, the chairman and chief executive said in an unusually outspoken defence of the industry. “Banks are [...]
Mark Carney: Scotland can ride oil price drop thanks to Union January 14, 2015 Bankof England (BoE) governor Mark Carney yesterday said that falling oil prices were a negative shock to the Scottish economy. “While it is a net positive to the UK economy – the change in the oil price – it is a negative shock to the Scottish economy,” Carney said. However, Scotland’s economic fortunes are reassured [...]
Al Murray vs Nigel Farage: Pub Landlord’s FUKP takes on Ukip in old South Thanet January 14, 2015 The fight for the South Thanet seat in the next general election is turning out to be a battle of the beer swiggers, featuring two pub landlords and one ale loving MEP. David Cameron’s distant cousin-cum-comedian Al Murray, aka the Pub Landlord, threw his lager into the ring yesterday. He joins Ukip’s Nigel Farage and, [...]
Will David Cameron’s refusal to take part in TV debates damage his electoral prospects? January 14, 2015 Mike Smithson, editor of PoliticalBetting.com, says Yes As an incumbent Prime Minister facing an opposition leader with as poor personal ratings as Ed Miliband’s, it has been apparent for a long time that the best outcome for David Cameron would be for no debates to take place. This is the case all the more so [...]
Cameron isn’t trying to ban Snapchat, WhatsApp, iMessage and encrypted messaging January 14, 2015 If the reports were right, David Cameron this week was trying to succeed where Kim Kardashian failed: to break the internet. The reaction against his comments implying the government might ban encryption was loud, angry and fast. This is entirely understandable – even setting aside the civil liberties arguments, any attempt to ban encryption would probably [...]