Nicola Sturgeon: Kate Forbes enters SNP race as Angus Robertson rules himself out February 20, 2023 Scotland’s finance secretary Kate Forbes has announced she will run to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and first minister of Scotland. Announcing her decision on Twitter she said: “I am today launching my bid to become Scotland’s next first minister, with the vision, experience and competence to inspire voters across Scotland.” In a video [...]
Water companies ordered to share plans for fixing sewage spills as Coffey considers tougher fines February 20, 2023 Water companies across England will have to explain why storm outflows are happening and what is being done to fix them.
Elizabeth Line: Almost half of Londoners have used the new route since May 2022 February 20, 2023 Nearly half of Londoners have used the Elizabeth line since it opened in May 2022, a new survey suggests. The results of a YouGov poll shared with the PA news agency indicate 45 per cent of the capital’s residents have made at least one journey on the £19 billion railway. That is up from 24% [...]
Tesco ‘considering sale’ of Tesco Bank, according to reports February 20, 2023 Tesco is considering selling Tesco Bank, according to Sky News which has reported that the supermarket giant has started a review process for its banking arm. The review is at a very early stage, according to insiders, and may not lead to a formal sale process. A partial sale or joint venture may also be [...]
Supermarket wars: Morrisons puts £25m into price cuts in bid to break back into ‘big four’ February 20, 2023 Morrisons is cutting prices across a range of its own-brand products as it joins a string of supermarkets battling to retain customers while living costs soar. The supermarket, which was recently pushed out of the “big four” UK grocers by discounter Aldi, said it has invested £25 million into the price cuts. Some 64 cupboard [...]
The Musk effect: Meta testing Facebook and Instagram subscription service for £10 a month February 20, 2023 Meta is testing a new subscription service that would let Facebook and Instagram users pay for a verified account – taking a page out of Elon Musk and Twitter’s book. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta Verified on his social media accounts on Sunday. Testing will begin in New Zealand and Australia this week and will roll [...]
Audit reform plans ‘ready to go’ but government delays now holding UK back, accountancy chief warns February 20, 2023 The UK government’s failure to overhaul the country’s audit sector risks seeing Britain lose its position as a world-leading investment hub, the head of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales has warned. ICAEW chief Michael Izza told City A.M. continued delays to the UK’s planned reshaping of the country’s audit sector could see foreign investors [...]
Calling the consultants’ bluff: The Big Con author on reining in the power of consulting firms February 20, 2023 Rosie Collington is seeking to call the consulting sector’s bluff. The UCL researcher is on a mission to challenge the notion that “consultancies exist on the scale and scope they do today because they create value in the economy.” Collington — one author of ‘The Big Con: How the consulting industry weakens our businesses, infantilizes our governments [...]
Tech sector needs a ‘shot in the arm’ to make UK’s Silicon Valley dreams come true, industry says February 20, 2023 Britain’s ambition to create its own Silicon Valley is achievable but only if the government implements a long-term strategy to boost domestic and foreign confidence in the country’s tech sector, industry experts have warned. Last month, business secretary Grant Shapps set out plans to create a “Silicon Valley with a British edge”. Trade association techUK [...]
BP and Shell: Will the mega profits of energy giants power our greener future? February 20, 2023 BP and Shell have pledged to ramp up renewable spending to meet the UK's climate and energy security goals, but can we trust them?
