Investigation launched into Network Rail reliability after delays and cost overruns June 12, 2015 Network Rail is to be investigated by Britain's rail regulator after it was accused of delivering poor punctuality and reliability on some of its key routes. The routes, some of which are the busiest commuter routes in the country, were "below requirements", according to the regulator, the Office of Road and Rail (ORR). They are operated [...]
MPs with constituencies near airports could be excluded from runway decision June 11, 2015 MPs whose constituencies are close to Heathrow or Gatwick may be excluded from having any input on the decision over where Britain's next runway is built. The government is under pressure to ban the MPs from a parliamentary group led by Crispin Blunt, Conservative MP for Reigate. The move comes as a final report is [...]
First Minister’s Questions: Scottish government brands Osborne’s budget cuts “unacceptable” June 11, 2015 John Swinney, deputy first minister of Scotland, has said that austerity measures proposed by George Osborne are "utterly unacceptable". Mr Swinney said that he believes the chancellor's budget reductions are unacceptable, urging Osborne to reconsider and find alternatives. Earlier, George Osborne announced that £3bn of savings would have to be made for this financial year. [...]
Kazakhstan to join World Trade Organisation after 20 years of talks June 11, 2015 Kazakhstan has completed negotiations to join the World Trade Organisation, after 20 years of negotiations. After spending the entire lifetime of the 20-year-old WTO trying to join the Geneva-based trade body, Kazakhstan is now on course to become its 162nd member. The country's candidacy gathered momentum after Russia, its neighbour, joined in 2012. It is [...]
Value of UK’s non-financial businesses reaches record £1trn June 11, 2015 The value of (non-financial) UK businesses reached £1 trillion for the first time in 2013, according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics. In 2013, the income generated by firms, less the cost of goods and services used to create this income, was estimated to be £1.001 trillion. This amounts to a 6.8 [...]
MPs line up to chair Parliament’s select committees: The races to watch June 11, 2015 Nominations for the chair of each of Parliament's select committees closed last night, with MPs lining up to take control of some of the most influential boards. A secret ballot, where each MP has one vote for each committee, will take place on 17 June, City A.M. has examined each of the declared candidates for six [...]
Tony Blair warns against move to left and urges Labour to the “radical centre” June 11, 2015 Tony Blair has said Labour will lose the next election without a "fundamental revision" of its strategy. In a move to intervene in the party's leadership race, the former Prime Minister has warned positioning itself to the left would be a bad decision. Read more: This is how the Labour leadership race is stacking up [...]
Argos sales fall 3.9 pc in disappointing quarter for Home Retail Group June 11, 2015 Argos sales for the first quarter of 2015 were disappointing, with market declines leading to sales in electrical products falling. The figures Like-for-like sales at Argos declined 3.9 per cent to £846m over the 13 weeks to the end of May, with total sales falling 2.6 per cent on 2014, after "declines in key electrical and seasonal product [...]
51 per cent of Facebook’s advertising revenue comes from overseas June 10, 2015 Facebook brings in more advertising revenue from overseas than it does in the United States, company executives have said. Some 51 per cent of global advertising sales in the first quarter of 2015 were from overseas – with the fastest growth in Asia. Total advertising revenue for the first quarter increased 46 per cent – [...]
David Cameron claims that cutting corruption could boost global economy by £380bn per year June 10, 2015 Cutting corruption by just 10 per cent could boost the global economy by £380bn, David Cameron has claimed. Speaking after Prime Minister's Questions, he addressed Parliament to inform MPs of his progress at the G7 summit held earlier this week. Read more: Corruption hits economic growth – and markets can do nothing to stop it The [...]
