The government must stop treating us like a nation of prospective criminals November 9, 2020 Despite the Prime Minister previously cautioning the “misery” that a second national lockdown would invariably cause, last week MPs voted for the imposition of new restrictions. A difficult period looms. The new measures criminalise family meetings, deny individuals the freedom of assembly, prevent religious ceremonies from taking place, and give the police the power to [...]
Marketing in the age of Tron: How to stand out in cyberspace November 9, 2020 In the 1982 sci-fi classic Tron, computer whizzkid Kevin Flynn discovers that his company’s Master Control Program (MCP) has expanded into a powerful virtual intelligence. Hungry for power, the MCP is illegally downloading personal, business and government programs and information to increase its own capabilities. As Flynn confronts the data-guzzling antagonist, MCP uses an experimental [...]
Scottish Widows pulls £440m from investments in ESG push November 9, 2020 Pensions provider Scottish Widows has announced it will pull millions from companies failing to meet its ESG standards. The £440m divestment from companies that “pose significant ESG” risk is the firm’s latest sustainable push, and is one of the largest exclusions policy by an institutional investor yet. The divestment seeks to protect almost 6m customers [...]
Housing market fends off significant hit of second lockdown November 9, 2020 While the second lockdown in England has had a detrimental effect on the country’s hospitality and leisure industries, the housing market is having an entirely different experience. The early impact of the second lockdown is bearing little resemblance to the hit it took in March, according to estate agent Knight Frank. UK house prices have [...]
Young Britons worst hit by Covid lockdowns, says new study November 8, 2020 Young people have been disproportionately affected by the UK’s Covid lockdowns and other restrictions, according to a new study. A study by NatWest/Centre for Social Justice found 20 per cent of all Britons saw their income fall this year, with 27 per cent of young people reporting decreases. Debit card spending on local services, such [...]
Boris Johnson maintains Brexit deal ‘is there to be done’ November 8, 2020 A post-Brexit trade deal is still “there to be done” despite the final deadline looming next month, according to Boris Johnson. Johnson, who spoke to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday, said “the broad outlines are pretty clear” and that the EU chief “totally agrees with me”. A statement from Downing Street yesterday [...]
Dominic Raab says Joe Biden and the US has ‘no greater ally’ than UK November 8, 2020 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has said the US has “no greater ally or dependable friend” than the UK as Downing Street prepares for a Joe Biden White House. The foreign secretary told the BBC he was “excited” to work with Biden and was “confident” the UK will be able to smooth any fears he may [...]
Private equity circles William Hill’s European arm November 8, 2020 Buyout firms are once again circling William Hill, this time for its European operations following a deal with American firm Caesars Entertainment. In late September William Hill said it had given Caesars Entertainment the green light for a £2.9bn deal, which will be put to a shareholder vote on 19 November. Once shareholders have approved [...]
National Grid faces breakup amid PM’s green push November 8, 2020 Boris Johnson’s push to reshape the energy industry in order to achieve the net zero target could reportedly see the break up of the National Grid. The regulator Ofgem’s recent review into National Grid will soon draw to a close and officials are exploring moves to breakup its current structure, according to the Sunday Telegraph. [...]
Vaccine taskforce chief spends £670,000 on PR team November 8, 2020 The chair of the government’s vaccine taskforce has reportedly used £670,000 of the taxpayers’ money on her own team of PR consultants. Kate Bingham was appointed in May and since June has used eight-full time PR consultants, on the equivalent of £165,000 salaries, to oversee her media strategy, according to the Sunday Times. Documents leaked to [...]
