BT and Openreach’s iron grip on the telecoms monopoly has left the UK disconnected February 14, 2023 A lack of competition in the telecoms industry has left us one of the worst connected countries in Europe. We need better connectivity, and we need it now, writes Tim Creswick
Buy-now pay-later firms braced for clampdown as Treasury looks to grant regulator new powers February 13, 2023 The government said it will give City watchdogs the power to “clamp down” on buy-now pay-later firms this year as it prepares to publish a much-delayed update on the scope of regulation around the sector tomorrow morning. The Treasury will lay out the details of regulation that will include plans to bring firms like Klarna, [...]
Sunak under pressure to increase defence spending amid NATO warnings February 13, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under pressure to increase the UK’s defence spending after NATO called for allies to boost ammunition production to support Ukraine. Tory backbenchers have issued stark warnings that Britain’s armed forces are “woefully ill-prepared” for a major conflict and that low defence spending is a “false economy”. It came as NATO [...]
Liberty Global buys five per cent stake in Vodafone claiming shares are undervalued February 13, 2023 Telecoms giant Liberty Global has bought an almost five per cent stake in Vodafone after claiming shares in the troubled firm are undervalued. Liberty’s purchase of a 4.92 per cent stake in Vodafone comes as a vote of confidence in the British company, as it struggles to satisfy investors. The phone operator’s share price [...]
Ireland to keep European economy out of a recession as Britain gets left behind February 13, 2023 Europe is poised to swerve a recession this year in a massive U-turn from warnings of blackouts sweeping across the bloc, with GDP powered by Ireland, new forecasts out today claim. Growth in the European Union (EU) will hit 0.8 per cent this year, an upgrade from the just 0.3 per cent forecast last autumn, [...]
Britcoin needs to prove it can secure adoption and not spy on our consumers, experts warn February 13, 2023 The digital pound faces a range of challenges before it could be adopted in the UK, experts told City AM, as industry figures continue to grapple with the announcement that a central bank digital currency (CBDC) is “likely to be needed” in the future. The risks a so-called Britcoin poses to financial stability and the [...]
FTSE 100 close: London index bumps higher ahead of key inflation and wage numbers February 13, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 kicked off the week in busy fashion today ahead of a busy week of data that will provide more clues on the health of the UK economy. The capital’s premier index closed 0.83 per cent higher today at 7,947.60 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with [...]
Post-Grenfell, second staircase for London buildings taller than 30 metres now mandatory, says Sadiq Khan February 13, 2023 All new London buildings taller than 30 metres will be required to have a second staircase, Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced. All planning applications will need to adhere to the building safety measure, which comes into force with immediate effect, before going to the GLA for sign off. The requirement for a second staircase in [...]
Chancery Lane to be closed off to cars for 18 months as Square Mile experiments with pedestrian only route February 13, 2023 Chancery Lane will be closed off to cars for the next 18 months as the City of London experiments with a scheme to support pedestrians more. Sandwiched between Holborn and Fleet Street, the Square Mile’s historic road will have no access for cars after 20 February. For 18 months, traffic restrictions will apply from 7am [...]
Hunt must tackle worker shortage hobbling London’s economy, business groups warn February 13, 2023 London’s economy is being hamstrung by a chronic worker shortage that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt needs to tackle at the 15 March budget, a new report from Britain’s biggest business lobby groups highlighted today. Nearly two in three of the capital’s firms are struggling to fill vacancies, according to research carried out by BusinessLDN, Federation of [...]
