Key Johnson aide and Dominic Cummings ally quits No 10 February 20, 2021 Oliver Lewis, the head of Boris Johnson’s ‘Union Unit’, has quit just two weeks into the job. Lewis resigned followed claims he had been accused by the Prime Minister and his fiancée of briefing against Michael Gove, the Times reported. The aide was only given his new role two weeks ago. The so-called ‘Union Unit’ [...]
Hallelujah: Two households to be able to meet outside by Easter February 20, 2021 Two households will be allowed to meet outside by Easter regardless of their size, though social distancing measures are likely to remain in place for months. The new rule is expected to be announced on Monday as part of Boris Johnson’s road map to ease lockdown restrictions, according to reports. Gatherings of six people from [...]
Bitcoin boom delivers cryptocurrency $1 trillion market cap February 19, 2021 Bitcoin has for the first time hit a market cap of $1 trillion, following a month that saw the cryptocurrency rocket more than 60 per cent in value. The world’s most popular cryptocurrency is now worth nearly $54,000 at the time of writing, a new all-time high. Bitcoin’s gains have been fueled by signs it [...]
Plans for grand new building axed in favour of ‘major overhaul’ of Barbican estate February 19, 2021 Plans for the pyramid-shaped Centre for Music have been scrapped and replaced with plans for a “major renewal” of the nearby Barbican estate. The elaborate concert hall was planned as the new home for the London Symphony Orchestra, but the City of London Corporate has now axed the idea in favour of a revamp of [...]
Bitcoin soars to new high as market cap edges closer to $1 trillion February 19, 2021 Bitcoin has jumped another 2.6 per cent today, to an all-time high of $52,932, putting it within touching distance of a market cap of £1 trillion. The world’s most popular cryptocurrency is on track for a weekly jump of more than eight per cent, having surged around 60 per cent so far this month. Bitcoin’s [...]
London Mayor Sadiq Khan becomes latest politician to have Covid-19 jab February 19, 2021 London Mayor Sadiq Khan has become the latest politician to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Khan, 50, received his first dose of the Pfizer jab this morning at a vaccination centre in Mitcham. Khan suffers with asthma. People aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions are being included in the second phase of the vaccine rollout. [...]
Arcadia collapse leaves bigger than expected £510m pension deficit February 19, 2021 The collapse of high street empire Arcadia has left a £510m pension deficit, some £200m more than previous estimates. Arcadia collapsed in December, becoming the largest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic and leaving thousands jobless. The news of a bigger-than-expected pension deficit, first reported by the Retail Gazette, paints a starker picture for individuals affected [...]
Banks move to buy parts of NatWest’s Irish loan book February 19, 2021 Allied Irish Banks has entered a non-binding agreement to buy around €4bn of corporate and commercial loans from NatWest’s Irish outfit, while separate talks elsewhere are ongoing to buy other assets. This morning NatWest announced it will pull out of its operations in the Republic of Ireland, after reporting a £351m annual loss in 2020. [...]
MPs urge FCA to set date for Woodford investigation end February 18, 2021 The Treasury Committee has urged the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to set out when it expects to conclude its lengthy investigation into the collapse of Neil Woodford’s fund. The City regulator has been investigating the situation regarding the gating and subsequent collapse of the Woodford Equity Income Fund since 2019, a process that has so [...]
Will London’s budding cannabis market turn the EU green with envy? February 18, 2021 One after the other, medical cannabis companies are listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), and investors are piling in cash, keen to be early investors in what they hope will become a major industry in the UK. It is an exciting time for the medicinal cannabis industry. In September, City regulator the Financial Conduct [...]
