Osborne in expenses probe July 2, 2009 SHADOW chancellor George Osborne is facing an expenses probe by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner following a complaint by the Labour Party chairman for his constituency. Laurie Burton, Labour chair in Osborne’s Tatton constituency, alleges that between 2001 and 2003, Osborne claimed a second home allowance on his main home, a practice known as “flipping”. Burton [...]
Bonuses done right are an essential tool July 2, 2009 SO bonuses are back. This is great news for many readers of this newspaper, the majority of whom work in financial services; but many others will find this return of the mega-payout to be entirely offensive. After all, the “bonus culture” – when huge financial rewards are meted out, regardless of real, long-term performance – [...]
FSA revamps its structure July 2, 2009 THE FINANCIAL Services Authority said yesterday it had completed reforms of its operational structure designed to help it identify risks in the financial sector. The FSA, which has been criticised for failing to spot the signs of the banking crisis, has created a new international division, led by director Verena Ross, which it said would [...]
Freshfields is City’s top legal firm July 2, 2009 FRESHFIELDS Bruckhaus Deringer has overtaken rival Clifford Chance to clinch the top spot among the UK’s highest-grossing law firms. Profit per equity partner – considered the best measure of a law firm’s profitability – remained broadly constant for the 2008/09 financial year at £1.44m, outperforming rivals who saw profits slump. Revenue hit £1.29bn, an increase [...]
CITY BANKERS CHEER AS BONUSES RETURN July 2, 2009 THE CITY is set for a return to the champagne-soaked days of old, after it emerged yesterday that bankers at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are on track for bumper full-year bonuses to rival those from the pre-credit crunch compensation heyday. Goldman Sachs is on course to pay out up to $700,000 (£427,000) per employee [...]
TALKING OF MEN’S SHIRTS… July 2, 2009 Sara Hollamby Style Counsel WHAT is the most important item of clothing a man could wear for work? Well in my opinion, it’s not necessarily his suit, although good quality tailoring is vital – it’s his shirt. Why? Because it is a piece of clothing that is next to your skin and must therefore feel [...]
Covering up in style July 2, 2009 GOING to the beach is a whole fashion experience. Think you can get away with your swimsuit and an old T-shirt or sundress? No way. The sun, sand, sea or pool call for a lot more. Leaving aside totes, towels, deckchairs, designer suncream, fetching hats and gleaming sandals, let’s focus on your body. What you [...]
OUT THIS WEEKEND PREVIEWS July 2, 2009 FILMICE AGE 3 More animated, prehistoric fun to help the holiday season fly by. RED MIST Hopeless horror schlock about a sicko in a coma manipulating others into murder. STRAWBERRY & CHOCOLATE Re-release of charming Cuban drama set just prior to the revolution. DVDMARLEY & ME Comedy about a man and his dog, with Owen [...]
NOW SHOWING SIX OF THE BEST July 2, 2009 THEATRE: Avenue Q Riotous and rude, the hugely popular puppetry show has found a new home at the Gielgud Theatre. ART: JW Waterhouse As well as its Summer Exhibition, the Royal Academy is showing a retrospective of the leading Pre-Raphaelite, full of maidens, myths and Victorian whimsy. FILM: Gangsters at the BFI To coincide with [...]
Depp does the time but the film’s a crime July 2, 2009 FilmPUBLIC ENEMIESCert: 15 AFTER all the Terminators, Transformers, gory horror flicks and kids’ cartoons, it should be refreshing to sit down for a blockbuster that’s actually aimed at adults. Michael Mann, director of films such as Ali and Heat, has crafted a handsome-looking crime epic about the famous Thirties bank robber John Dillinger, with plenty [...]
