Week ahead: City braces for another Bank of England rate hike January 30, 2022 All eyes will be on Threadneedle Street this week as the City braces for another rate hike from the Bank of England. The Old Lady is widely expected to lift borrowing costs again on Thursday, marking the first time the central bank has hiked rates at successive meetings since 2004. The Bank lifted rates for [...]
Bank of England to hoist rates to highest level since 2009 January 30, 2022 Interest rates in the UK will climb to the highest level since the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis by the end of the year, City traders are betting. The Bank will reinforce its sharp policy shift to zeroing in on rampant inflation at its meeting of rate setters this Thursday after it hiked rates [...]
Virgin Atlantic slammed for ‘overblown and oppressive’ staff socialising ban January 30, 2022 Virgin Atlantic has been criticised for not allowing airline staff to socialise in a bid to prevent Covid outbreaks. Under a policy that has been in place since 21 December, pilots and cabin crew and not allowed to eat or socialise together. Bosses are trying to crack down on a party culture that they fear [...]
Truss: UK willing to sanction Russian oligarchs close to Putin over Ukraine January 30, 2022 The UK will level tough sanctions on Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin if he invades Ukraine, Liz Truss has said. The foreign secretary said she would next week introduce legislation in parliament that will “target more Russian interests that are of direct reliance to the Kremlin” and that the sanctions would come in place [...]
BBC pays out £1.64m in damages for asbestos cancer deaths January 30, 2022 The BBC has paid £1.64m in asbestos damages after 11 former staff died of cancer after working in the broadcaster’s buildings.
Highway Code updates come into force today January 29, 2022 The latest updates to the Highway Code have come into force, bringing a new set of precautions with them. The Department for Transport (DfT) today published a document summarising the new rules motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will need to pay attention to going forward. The new regulations introduce a hierarchy of road users to ensure [...]
Brookfield Property Partners to launch £4bn auction for Center Parcs UK January 29, 2022 Property giant Brookfield Property Partners is reportedly launching a £4bn auction to sell its subsidiary Center Parks UK, Britain’s largest chain of holiday villages. Brookfield’s decision comes after Center Parks UK reported £120m in EBITDA earnings in the half year ended 7 October as a result of Covid restrictions and the consequent surge in staycations. [...]
Energy prices to soar to £1,900 from April January 29, 2022 Energy bills are expected to soar to £1,900 from April, following the energy cap increase. Under plans that will be finalised this week by industry regulator Ofgem, the average energy bill will go up 48 per cent, from £1,277 to £1,897, the Telegraph reported. Sources have reported that the move will put ministers under pressure [...]
Sajid Javid to nationalise GPs in effort to reduce hospitalisations January 29, 2022 Health secretary Sajid Javid is considering whether to nationalise GPs as a way to reduce hospitalisations. Shaking to the core the 70-year-old NHS structure, Javid’s plan could mark the end of GP surgeries as doctors would directly be employed by hospital trusts. “Whilst there are some strengths to the system of primary care, it’s also [...]
Sue Gray furious after police intervention as Scotland Yard contacts ‘partygate’ suspects January 29, 2022 Sue Gray, the civil servant looking into the lockdown-breaking parties allegedly held at No 10, is furious after the Met’s intervention. Gray, who was told by Scotland Yard on Friday to make “minimal reference” to the parties, was frustrated and angered by the situation, as her report is expected to be published within days, the [...]