Four things companies and consumers want for energy, fuel duty and North Sea oil from the Autumn Statement November 21, 2016 Energy consumers and industry groups no doubt have their fingers crossed for a slew of price cuts, duty freezes and investment boosts when chancellor Philip Hammond delivers his Autumn Statement on Wednesday. Here are some of the top energy-related wants – and some of the indicated energy policies – to look out for later this [...]
Potholes beware: UK’s roads to get a £1.3bn boost in Philip Hammond’s infrastructure-intensive first Autumn Statement November 20, 2016 A £1.3bn funding boost to go towards improving Britain's roads will be one of the key infrastructure policies announced in Philip Hammond's Autumn Statement next week. Infrastructure investment will be "at the heart" of the mini-Budget, the government said today, will policies targeting long-term economic growth and productivity. An industrial strategy will also be published in [...]
Second tram investigation launched after video shows a driver “asleep” at controls close to spot of tragic Croydon crash November 19, 2016 An investigation has been launched into footage that appears to show a tram driver "asleep" while driving a tram close to the site where a major crash occurred nine days ago. The driver in the video, who was doing 40mph two stops away from the crash area, had 50 passengers on board the rush-hour tram when the [...]
Brexit: 60 Conservative MPs including Michael Gove and Iain Duncan Smith call on Theresa May to pull UK from Single Market November 19, 2016 A group of 60 pro-Brexit Conservative MPs has demanded Prime Minister Theresa May pulls Britain out of the Single Market. The ministers, which include seven former cabinet members, have put their names to the "hard Brexit" demand through the Sunday Telegraph, amid concerns that Remain figures in the cabinet are watering down the government's Brexit position. [...]
Facebook to launch $6bn share buyback programme from first quarter of next year and accounting chief Jas Athwal to resign in February November 19, 2016 Facebook Inc will buy back up to $6bn (£4.8bn) of its shares, starting in the first quarter of next year. The social media behemoth's board of directors authorised the repurchase programme of Class A common stock, which does not have an expiration date, according to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Shares were [...]
Steel yourselves: Storm Angus set to batter London tonight with 55mph winds and could affect commuters on Monday morning November 19, 2016 The first storm of Autumn 2016 is poised to batter London, the South and South East of England tonight and could cause disruption to commuters into Monday morning. Storm Angus will be whipping up a, err, storm, overnight when gales with storm-force winds developing over the English Channel will be swept overland from Dorset to Suffolk. London [...]
Senior Tories urge Theresa May to drop Brexit appeal case November 19, 2016 Senior Conservative Party members have urged Theresa May to abandon an appeal against the Brexit High Court ruling that means MPs must vote on the UK leaving the EU. The former head of the government's Brexit unit, Oliver Letwin, and two former justice officers have said the case should not go to the Supreme Court and that [...]
US President-elect Donald Trump agrees to pay $25m to settle Trump University lawsuits November 19, 2016 US-President elect Donald Trump has reached an agreement to settle lawsuits in connection with his Trump University for $25m (£20m). If the settlement, announced yesterday, is approved, it will put to rest fraud allegations brought forward by former students at the now-defunct for-profit education company that offered real estate training from 2005 to 2010. New York attorney [...]
There are now 50/1 odds Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones will be the UK’s next Prime Minister November 19, 2016 If British politics follows the US example, allowing an outsider businessman to ascend to the helm of the nation, Peter Jones could soon be swapping the set of Dragons' Den for Number 10. There are now 50/1 odds that Jones will be the UK's next Prime Minister, according to online betting site BetStars, after the entrepreneur [...]
Chancellor Philip Hammond to announce ban on pensions cold calling in Autumn Statement next week November 19, 2016 Pensions cold callers who target the elderly and trick them out of their life savings will be banned in chancellor Philip Hammond's Autumn Statement this week. Around 250m scam calls are made every year, or equivalent to eight every second, the government said today. Cowboy cold callers prey upon almost 11m pensioners a year and [...]
