Nanny State Index: The UK is one of the most nannying states in Europe – but there’s little evidence to suggest sin taxes on sugar and alcohol are helping March 31, 2016 George Osborne’s decision to put a sin tax on fizzy drinks confirmed that there is no escape from the nanny state in Britain, but if the increasingly meddlesome tendencies of our politicians makes you want to emigrate, where should you go? Today’s publication of the first ever Nanny State Index suggests that Luxembourg, Germany or the Czech Republic [...]
There was a fire at ITV Studios this morning and London Fire Brigade made a pun about it March 30, 2016 London Fire Brigade has tackled a fire at ITV Studios this morning – but not before it meant Good Morning Britain was forced off air. Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to ITV Studios on London’s Southbank this morning, where an IT post production room was on fire. Around 50 people evacuated [...]
Hornby’s share price soars as Barclays grants lifeline on banking covenants March 30, 2016 Hornby's share price soared more than 15 per cent this morning, after the troubled toymaker was granted a last-minute lifeline on its banking covenants. The firm behind Thomas the Tank Engine warned back in February that it was on course to breach its covenants, alongside yet another profit warning. Chief executive Richard Ames was given the heave-ho [...]
Premier Foods’ share price climbs as McCormick ups bid to 65p per share, valuing Mr Kipling parent at £1.5bn March 30, 2016 Premier Foods' share price soared more than 9.3 per cent this morning after US food giant McCormick has upped its bid following the Mr Kipling parent' rejection of its first two offers. McCormick has raised its offer to 65p per share, valuing the firm at £1.5bn, up from the 60p per share overture it made last week. It [...]
Bonmarche’s share price rises as it names Asda director Helen Connolly as new chief executive March 30, 2016 Bonmarche has named Asda director Helen Connolly its new chief executive, replacing Beth Butterwick at the helm. Connolly will take up the role at the womenswear retailer later this year. Bonmarche's share price rose almost two per cent on the news this morning. She is currently senior buying director for George at Asda, where she is responsible for all women's [...]
UK house prices: Bolton, Leicester, Leeds and Birmingham are the worst places to have bought a home this century March 29, 2016 Property owners in London and the south might be sitting pretty with homes earning more than the national salary in a single year. But there are plenty of places in the UK where a bricks and mortar investment at the start of the century would have been a bad punt. Office of National Statistics data, analysed by [...]
EU referendum: Everyone on Twitter is laughing at education secretary Nicky Morgan’s speech on Brexit March 29, 2016 Education secretary Nicky Morgan gave a speech today that was presumably intended to rally young people around the government's Remain campaign in the run up to the EU referendum – but the reaction suggests her points fell a little wide of the mark. Morgan warned that the nation's young would be the most affected by a possible Brexit, but some [...]
London house prices: Qataris now own £1bn chunk of Mayfair property – and their favourite addresses are Park Lane, Green Street and Mount Street March 29, 2016 Members of the Qatari royal family, other Qatari nationals and wealth funds now own a £1bn chunk of Mayfair real estate, a new report estimates. Almost a quarter of Mayfair’s 279 acres and over 4,300 residential properties is now dominated by Qataris, prompting estate agent Rokstone to dub the area between Park Lane, Hyde Park and North Row "Qatari [...]
Is this the UK’s most expensive conservatory? Mayfair apartment on sale for £5.6m values garden space at £750,000 March 29, 2016 It might not look like much, but this conservatory and rooftop patio are worth an estimated £750,000 – making it potentially the most expensive garden space in the UK. They are part of a two-bed luxury apartment in Mayfair, which is currently on sale for £5.6m (for a 116-year lease). The 2,212 sq ft south-facing [...]
All hostages released from EgyptAir MS181 in Larnaca, Cyprus as hijacker arrested March 29, 2016 All the hostages have been released unharmed from Egypt Air flight MS181, and authorities have arrested the hijacker. "It's over," said Cyprus' ministry of foreign affairs. Its over. The #hijacker arrested. #LarnacaAirport # Egyptair — Cyprus MFA (@CyprusMFA) March 29, 2016 The flight, bound from Alexandria's Borg El Arab for Cairo, was diverted to Cyprus' Lanarca Airport after [...]
