Post-Brexit reforms: Hunt aims to ‘turbocharge’ economy with biggest banking shake-up in 30 years December 9, 2022 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled plans to “turbocharge growth” with the biggest shake-up in banking reforms for three decades. His so-called Edinburgh reforms announced this morning seek to “seize the benefits of Brexit” by cutting EU red tape for the financial sector. The new measures build on the government’s Mansion House 2021 package, with a [...]
115,000 posties start Christmas strike today as union boss warns of festive ‘meltdown’ December 9, 2022 More than 100,000 postal workers have begun their Christmas strikes over pay, as the industry’s union boss said Royal Mail is risking a “Christmas meltdown”. Walkouts by posties in the CWU union started this morning, after rejecting Royal Mail’s “final and best” pay offer of a nine per cent rise over two years. The union [...]
Santander slapped with £108m fine by FCA for anti-money laundering failures December 9, 2022 Santander has been fined more than £107m by the Financial Conduct Authority for anti-money laundering failures. The banking giant will have to pay £107,793,300 to the watchdog after it was found to have “serious and persistent gaps” stopping the scourge. FCA found that between 31 December 2012 and 18 October 2017, it didn’t properly oversee [...]
Google appoints former Unilever top brass as MD for the UK and Ireland December 9, 2022 Google has appointed the former top brass at Unilever as its new managing director for the UK and Ireland. American tech leader and entrepreneur Debbie Weinstein will look after the technology giant’s business in Britain from March 2023, saying it feels like “coming home”. Weinstein will take over from Ronan Harris, who joined the company [...]
Whitty report says toxic air pollution down 44 per cent in central London thanks to ULEZ December 8, 2022 London has emerged as a “world leader” in tackling toxic air pollution according to a new report by chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty. His latest findings reveal the dangers of pollution in the capital, but show Nitrogen Dioxide (No2) concentrations by roads are down a fifth in inner London and 44 per cent in [...]
Labour MP Conor McGinn suspended after internal complaint December 8, 2022 Labour has suspended MP Conor McGinn from the party pending investigation. It is understood the St Helens North MP was suspended after a complaint was lodged through the party’s independent process. According to the Guardian, McGinn said the claims were “entirely unfounded”. It has been confirmed he’s been administratively suspended as a member of the [...]
Building gains: Balfour Beatty lifts end-of-year outlook after profit and revenue boost December 8, 2022 Shares for UK-based infrastructure giant Balfour Beatty were up 2.2 per cent following a boost in expectations for revenue and profit. The construction company said it was five per cent ahead of 2021’s £16.1bn in terms of its order book, as it raised expectations for its full year report. Balfour Beatty also raised prospects for [...]
Tories suspend whip from MP Julian Knight ‘following complaint to Met Police’ December 7, 2022 The Conservatives have suspended the whip of MP Julian Knight following a complaint to the Met Police. A spokesperson for the Government Chief Whip said: “Following a complaint made to the Metropolitan Police this evening, we have removed the Whip from Julian Knight MP with immediate effect.” He is the the MP for Solihull and chair [...]
Exclusive: Planned redundancies in financial services up 46 per cent in last quarter December 7, 2022 Redundancies in financial services are up 46 per cent in the last quarter as employers look to save money amid the prospect of a bleak economic winter. Recessionary headwinds have “caught up” with hundreds of firms, forced to move on from desperately filling a shortage of staff, to letting existing employees go. In figures exclusively [...]
Baroness Mone loses Tory whip over £200m PPE contract row December 7, 2022 Rishi Sunak has confirmed that Baroness Mone is no longer under the Conservative whip due to the row over PPE contracts. The Prime Minister confirmed she is no longer aligned with the party in the House of Lords, saying he was “absolutely shocked” about revelations this week. This comes after Baroness Mone said she would [...]