RBS could be fined tens of millions of pounds by the FCA for 2012 computer failure November 3, 2014 The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will face tens of millions of pounds worth of fines from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for IT blunders back in 2012. In October, RBS was told by the FCA it must pay an amount that would be a record for IT failures. In 2012, 7m customers were locked [...]
Boris Johnson welcomes report calling for more Commonwealth immigration November 3, 2014 The UK is missing a huge economic and cultural opportunity because of anachronistic and counterproductive restrictions on immigration from the Commonwealth, easing pressure created by its ageing population. So concludes a new report published today by think tank the Commonwealth Exchange, with a foreword written by London mayor Boris Johnson. Johnson wrote: We should welcome [...]
Diageo lands Tequila Don Julio in exchange for Bushmills Irish whiskey November 3, 2014 UK drinks giant Diageo has secured a deal with Casa Cuervo, owner of leading tequila brand Jose Cuervo, to acquire full ownership of tequila Don Julio. Don Julio is produced in Mexico and is the eighth biggest tequila brand in the US. In exchange for the brand, Diageo will sell off Irish whiskey Bushmills to [...]
Ryanair share price rises as it hikes profit forecast and lands 200 new planes November 3, 2014 Shares in budget airline Ryanair opened nearly two per cent higher after it posted pre-tax profits of €907m (£709m) for the half-year ended 30 September, a substantial rise on the €685m (£535.5m) the company enjoyed last year. Passenger numbers in the first half rose four per cent to 51.3m and revenue climbed nine per cent. [...]
Darling to step down as MP at 2015 election November 3, 2014 LABOUR veteran and former chancellor Alistair Darling last night announced he is standing down as an MP at the next election. Darling headed the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence, gaining victory in September’s referendum. Last night Darling threw his support for the Scottish Labour leadership behind Jim Murphy. “Jim has the enthusiasm, the energy [...]
This week taxpayers will find out how much of their money goes on welfare November 2, 2014 Taxpayers will for the first time receive their Annual Tax Summary, which will show how much tax the person has paid and to which government departments the money has gone. HM Revenue & Customs will begin sending out the statements tomorrow to 24m taxpayers, who will be shown that a quarter of their money is [...]
Alistair Darling to stand down as an MP at 2015 general election November 2, 2014 Labour veteran and former chancellor Alistair Darling is standing down as an MP at the next election. The Labour MP told the Financial Times he wanted to exit Westminster while he was still "relatively young". Furthermore, the former leader of the Better Together campaign threw his support for the Scottish Labour party leadership behind Jim [...]
Department for Education scrambles to explain gay rights “nonsense” tweet November 2, 2014 The Department for Education (DfE) has issued a clarification over a tweet it sent out regarding the teaching of gay rights in schools. The message said it was "nonsense to say schools must teach gay rights". The message elicited a strong response from gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell who said the tweet was "disgraceful homophobia". [...]
Ken Clarke: “Free movement of labour is absolutely essential” November 2, 2014 Veteran Tory MP and former cabinet minister Ken Clarke has told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme there's "less abuse of benefits among the eastern Europeans" than native Brits. He added David Cameron "knows perfectly well" that the free movement of people was a founding principle of the EU and that "free movement of labour is [...]
EU brokers Russia, Ukraine gas deal after months of negotiation October 30, 2014 Russia has agreed to resume supplies of natural gas supplies to Ukraine until March 2015 following months of negotiations brokered by the European Union. The deal will also include EU funds to assist Ukraine in paying off its debts to Russian energy giant Gazprom so gas will be delivered to the war-torn country in time [...]
