Asos hires Capquest boss Helen Ashton as new chief financial officer April 14, 2015 The chief financial officer merry-go-round continues. Today, it's the turn of Asos, which has hired Helen Ashton to take on the role being vacated by Nick Beighton. Ashton, who is currently chief executive of debt management business Capquest, will join in September. She will join the board at the same time. Beighton has already moved [...]
Clydesdale Bank just got slapped with a £20.7m fine – the biggest one of its kind in the FCA’s history April 14, 2015 Clydesdale Bank has been slapped with the largest PPI-related fine in the FCA's history – nearly £20.7m – for “serious failings” in the way it handled complaints. The bank implemented “inappropriate policies” and provided false information to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) between May 2011 and July 2013, the FCA said. Because of the [...]
Inflation is zero, but retailers and manufacturers are charging you more for less April 14, 2015 Consumer price inflation may be at zero for the second month in a row, but new research suggests the goods we buy are getting smaller while prices are edging up. Take your Tetley's Blend of Both tea, for example. If you bought that in Sainsbury's a few months back it would have been £2.55 for [...]
Temperatures to reach mid-20s with hottest day of the year expected this week – but don’t think that’ll set the tone for the year April 13, 2015 Temperatures are expected to reach low-to-mid 20*C in London and the south this week, with Tuesday and Wednesday looking set to be the hottest days of the year so far. Last week reached a peak of 21.9*C recorded in London's St James's Park on Friday, but this week is set to get even hotter. [...]
Nigel’s voting for Ukip but Samantha is not backing the Tories: How your name could determine which party you vote for in General Election 2015 April 13, 2015 He might not want it made public, but your friend Tim is probably going to vote for the Lib Dems. Charlotte has plumped for the Tories, but Samantha is distinctly lukewarm on Cameron. Jill is almost certainly going to vote Ukip (as is Nigel, naturally) while Michelle is leaving her mark in Labour's box. [...]
General Election 2015: Economist blasts Labour and Conservatives for “deeply depressing” debate about tax avoidance and evasion April 13, 2015 Labour is guaranteeing to raise £7.5bn from cracking down on tax avoidance, while the Tories have pledged to claw back £5bn if they stay in charge. But according to one economist, both parties are talking through their hat. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and a former Treasury bod, has said [...]
Southeastern gives staff gift vouchers for dealing with travel chaos at London Bridge – as seven failures cause yet more commuter misery this morning April 13, 2015 Train operator Southeastern has given 4,000 members of staff shopping vouchers to thank them for dealing with the ongoing chaos at London Bridge – but there is still no word on passenger compensation. The employees were given £25 gift vouchers, which can be used at shops including Sainsbury's Boots and Mothercare, in response to the [...]
General Election 2015: Labour to reassure voters of fiscal responsibility in today’s manifesto launch in Manchester April 13, 2015 Labour is making fiscal responsibility the central pledge in its manifesto, as the left-wing party seeks to reassure voters that it can be trusted with country's purse strings once again. Party leader Ed Miliband and his entourage headed to Manchester today for today's official launch of the manifesto, which will guarantee each of its policies [...]
From Hatton Garden heist to Eric Pickles in a pickle: Here’s what got us talking this week April 10, 2015 There was a jewel heist. There was plenty of oil. And somewhere in California, there was the world's first gathering of micronations. Here's what got us talking this week 1. There's oil in them there hills A huge oil well, thought to contain more of the black stuff than has been produced by [...]
Hutton Garden heist: Police admit a call was ignored after alarm was triggered by burglars April 10, 2015 The Metropolitan Police have admitted they received a call about the Hatton Garden heist on Friday night – and did nothing about it. The heist – in which thieves made off with the contents of around 70 safety deposit boxes – was not picked up by officers until Tuesday morning – five days later – [...]
