London Euston and Paddington deserted as 12,000 strike on FA Cup Final and Epsom Derby day June 3, 2023 Two of the busiest train stations in London were almost empty on Saturday morning as train strikes continue into their second day. Around 12,000 members of the drivers’ union Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Train (RMT) union are on strike over pay and working conditions, affecting 15 train companies. Platforms at Euston Station in [...]
US debt ceiling: Joe Biden expected to sign legislation two days before deadline June 3, 2023 President Joe Biden is expected to sign legislation to raise the US debt ceiling, just two days before the US Treasury warned that the country would struggle to pay its bills. The bipartisan measure, which was approved this week by the US house and senate, eliminates the potential for an unprecedented government default. “Passing this [...]
Succession: CMA would block a Waystar merger just like Microsoft – and it hurts Britain June 2, 2023 No spoilers, I promise. Succession builds towards its climax. Logan Roy, played by a full tilt Brian Cox, is trying to finalise a merger between his media conglomerate Waystar Royco – a hybrid of News Corporation and Disney – and the up and coming tech business GoJo. Imagine the final scenes. Months of globe-trotting negotiations [...]
Barclays, Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to shut 63 more branches – including in London June 2, 2023 Two of the country’s biggest banking giants have announced they are slashing another 63 branches, taking away services from local communities around the UK. Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group between them announced a series of closures which are due to take place later this year or early next year. Barclays said on Friday it was [...]
British American Tobacco investors hope to cash in on pivot to vape sales June 2, 2023 Investors will be hoping Lucky Strike maker British American Tobacco (BAT) has stubbed out historic misconduct issues and is cashing in on its pivot to vapes and e-cigarettes. The FTSE 100-listed giant will give an update on its progress with a new boss at the helm when it unveils its trading update on Tuesday. The [...]
Explainer: The British circus around Europe to strike migration deals June 2, 2023 Not many people would expect to spend their Friday morning scrolling through Robert Jenrick’s Instagram account. For those who don’t know him, he’s the Minister for Immigration, Suella Braverman’s right-hand man. Jenrick doesn’t like migration very much – and has made that clear through various statements of various tastelessness. He claimed that “uncontrolled migration threatens [...]
Pound records strong week as London markets expects Bank to hike rates further June 2, 2023 The pound has recorded its strongest week against the dollar in half a year as investors expect the Bank of England to keep hiking rates after the Fed has paused. Across the week, the pound gained more than 1.5 per cent against the dollar to trade at over $1.2530 on Friday afternoon. The pound performed [...]
Boris Johnson sends ‘all unredacted WhatsApps’ to Covid inquiry – going around the cabinet office June 2, 2023 Boris Johnson said he has sent “all unredacted WhatsApps” directly to the Covid-19 inquiry ahead of a legal clash between the probe and the Cabinet Office over access to the messages. The former prime minister told the inquiry’s chairwoman Baroness Hallett he would “like to do the same” with messages that are on an old [...]
Purplebricks: Troubled estate agent sold to rival Strike for £1 as job cuts loom June 2, 2023 Purplebricks has been sold for £1 to online estate agency Strike after shareholders approved the offer from the only remaining bidder. It will see the troubled firm come under the ownership of its rival, backed by Carphone Warehouse founder Sir Charles Dunstone. The online agency agreed to sell its business and assets to Strike for [...]
BBC announce Dame Elan Closs Stephens as acting chair after Richard Sharp’s exit June 2, 2023 Dame Elan Closs Stephens has been appointed acting chairwoman of the BBC following Richard Sharp’s departure. Mr Sharp resigned after publication of a report which found he broke the rules by failing to disclose that he played a role in getting then-prime minister Boris Johnson an £800,000 loan guarantee. The Government announced on Friday that [...]