Jeremy Hunt faces calls for March budget giveaways after UK borrows £30bn less than forecast February 21, 2023 The UK government spent less than it reaped in from taxpayers last month helping to push yearly borrowing £30bn lower than projected by forecasters, officials figures out today reveal. The difference between what the government generated in revenue and spent hit a positive £5.4bn, meaning the UK’s public finances were in surplus last month, according [...]
FTSE 100 close: London index dips below 8,000 point mark on interest rate hike fears February 21, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 closed below the 8,000 point today driven lower by a broad sell off fuelled by investors sweating over more interest rate rises from central banks. The capital’s premier index slipped 0.46 per cent to 7,977.74 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the [...]
SNP race: Humza Yousaf ‘clear favourite’ to replace Nicola Sturgeon after Kate Forbes equal marriage controversy February 21, 2023 Health minister Humza Yousaf has gained an advantage in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon after Kate Forbes was forced to apologise for her comments on equal marriage. Yousaf, who has emerged as the continuity candidate after Sturgeon’s sudden resignation announcement last week, has vowed he will “always fight for the equal rights of others”. [...]
Explainer: How the Conservatives lost the farmers’ vote February 21, 2023 The Conservatives have lost Britain’s farmers. In December, support for the Tories among farmers dropped to 42 per cent. For the first time in living memory, less than 50 per cent of the farming community said they would vote Conservative if there was an election tomorrow. In December 2021, that number was 57 per cent. [...]
Fossil fuel industry needs to do more to tackle methane emissions, warns IEA February 21, 2023 The fossil fuel industry is failing to tackle methane emissions despite its pledges to uncover and fix leaking infrastructure, warns the IEA.
Energy firms face fines for breaking forced prepayment meter rules, Ofgem warns February 21, 2023 Energy firms could be fined if they are found to have broken the rules around forced prepayment meter installations, Ofgem warned.
Swarm launches tradable on-chain stocks and bonds February 21, 2023 Regulated blockchain platform Swarm today launched a world-first public investment offering for Apple, Tesla, and two US Treasury Bonds on-chain.
Old Street roundabout revamp to be finished in ‘early 2024’ as delays hold back project February 21, 2023 The transformation of Old Street Station is set to be further delayed as Transport for London (TfL) today pushed back the completion date for the project to “early 2024”. TfL said the project has been delayed by the pandemic, with the construction site shut for three months and operations subject to long periods of social [...]
Co-op front runner in race to buy Sainsbury’s Bank’s £650m loan book, according to reports February 21, 2023 The Co-operative Bank has tabled an offer for Sainsbury’s Bank’s £650m loan portfolio being, according to reports by Sky News. The Co-operative bank is among a number of parties understood to have tabled a bid for the supermarket bank’s loan book . An insider cited by Sky News said the Co-operative “appeared to be the [...]
Vodafone’s major solar deal with Centrica to boost UK’s green energy industry February 21, 2023 Telecoms giant Vodafone today announced it has signed a 10-year solar power deal with British Gas owner Centrica, which the firms said will significantly ramp up renewable energy production in the UK. The deal, or power purchase agreement, will see the construction of five solar farms across England. The farms, the firms said, will help [...]
