Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and PepsiCo named as worst packaging polluters in UK July 21, 2023 Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and PepsiCo are the worst packaging polluters in the UK, an annual waste audit has found. Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage, which released its annual audit on Friday, looked at more than 30,700 individual polluting items collected by more than 4,000 citizen scientists along coastlines, canal paths, bridleways and city streets over a [...]
OnlyFans to ‘OilyFans’: Billboards show BP chief topless after earning £10m July 21, 2023 A set of billboards for the adult site OnlyFans has been rebranded by environmental activists to show the chief executive of BP shirtless. Following complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), Global Witness bought out three advertising slots around London to comment on the pay package of Bernard Looney, whose earnings went from £4.5 million [...]
UK borrowing falls as debt pile revised to under 100 per cent of economy July 21, 2023 The Government’s debt pile was bigger than the country’s economic output in June – the first time this has happened for more than 60 years, official data shows. Public sector net borrowing hit £18.5 billion last month, down from £20 billion a month earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. It pushed the total [...]
Natwest boss apologises to Nigel Farage over Coutts account closures July 20, 2023 Dame Alison Rose, chief executive of Natwest, has apologised to former UKIP leader Nigel Farage for “deeply inappropriate comments” made about him in official papers and has ordered a review of Coutts processes after the bank closed his accounts. “I believe very strongly that freedom of expression and access to banking are fundamental to our [...]
Anti-strikes bill becomes law as unions vow to fight it ‘tooth and nail’ July 20, 2023 A law has been passed to curb the effect strikes can have on some key services. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act has been granted Royal Assent, having cleared both Houses of Parliament after a protracted battle over its impact. The law will allow ministers to impose minimum levels of service during industrial action by [...]
Ofcom warns mobile phone companies over pricey overseas charges July 20, 2023 Ofcom has proposed a set of new rules that would force mobile phone companies to tell customers when they are using potentially expensive texts, data and calls abroad. The telecoms regulator said that while many mobile phone operators already do, it is planning to make it obligatory for them to text customers when they travel abroad. [...]
£465m takeover of Lookers set to collapse as shareholder Cinch opposes deal July 20, 2023 The £465 million takeover of car dealership group Lookers is set to collapse after a major shareholder said it planned to block the move. Last month, the board of Lookers said it had agreed the sale of the company to Global Auto Holdings, an entity linked to privately owned Canadian car dealer network Alpha Auto [...]
Babcock shares up 10 per cent after reinstating dividend July 20, 2023 British engineering company Babcock said it was confident on further growth this year and would reinstate its dividend, encouraged by the boost to defence spending since the war in Ukraine. The company, which designs and manufactures naval ships and weapons handling systems as well as supporting Britain’s nuclear submarines, said it expected to deliver average [...]
Farage: Government right to consider Natwest licence over Coutts brouhaha July 20, 2023 Nigel Farage has praised the Government following reports ministers are considering making new laws to stop banks closing customers’ accounts because they disagree with their political views. The former Ukip leader said MPs are “beginning to realise that this system is coming for them as well” after his bank accounts were closed by Coutts because his views [...]
CMA warns supermarkets to make pricing clearer or risk enforcement action July 20, 2023 The Competition and Markets Authority has found not all retailers are displaying prices as clearly as they should, which could be hampering people’s ability to compare products. The watchdog said it is writing to these retailers and warning them to make the necessary changes or risk facing enforcement action. It is also calling on the government [...]