Rishi Sunak to tighten Treasury assessments for new projects August 23, 2020 Rishi Sunak has threatened government departments that he will be tougher in assessing new infrastructure projects as the Treasury begins to worry about the UK’s bulging deficit. The chancellor will reportedly give the Treasury more oversight of infrastructure spending by giving more power to experts to assess projects, before they report directly to himself and [...]
Cabinet draws up plans for simultaneous no-deal Brexit and second Covid wave August 23, 2020 The government has drawn up plans to deal simultaneously with a second coronavirus wave and the effects of a no-deal Brexit after December 31. The Cabinet Office’s emergency plans include telling the Navy to protect the UK’s waters from illegal EU fishing boats and deploying the army on Brtain’s streets to quell civil unrest. The [...]
BT steps up takeover defence after share price halves August 23, 2020 Bosses at telecoms giant BT have taken steps to bolster its defences against a potential takeover after a plunge in its share price. According to Sky News, the firm, which is now valued at £10.1bn, has told Goldman Sachs to update its strategy for defending BT from such a move. The plans may also involve [...]
Easyjet offers pilots ‘seasonal’ contracts to stave off job cuts August 23, 2020 Pilots at budget carrier Easyjet have been offered six-month long “seasonal” contracts in a bid to stave off sweeping job cuts amid the downturn in air travel. Up to 727 pilots’ jobs are at risk at the low-cost airline, which has seen passenger demand collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the new offer, pilots [...]
Former bosses of Finablr and NMC Health face fraud accusations August 23, 2020 The former chief executives of Finablr and NMC Health are among a group of 17 people who are claimed to have embezzled millions of UAE dirhams from the firms, the Sunday Telegraph reported today. According to a report prepared for billionaire tycoon Bavaguthu Shetty, who founded the companies, brothers Prasanth and Promoth Manghat, who led [...]
Jeremy Corbyn aides believed he sabotaged his 2019 election campaign August 23, 2020 Jeremy Corbyn’s closest aides thought he was sabotaging himself during the 2019 General Election campaign, according to a new book on Labour’s disastrous defeat. Corbyn reportedly intentionally missed events by making his schedule run over time during the campaign as the party’s leadership squabbled over campaign tactics. The revelations come from the soon-to-be-released Left Out [...]
Gavin Williamson was on holiday in lead-up to A-level results chaos August 23, 2020 Under fire education secretary Gavin Williamson cancelled a key meeting and went on holiday to the seaside a week before the A-level results fiasco, it has been revealed. The Sunday Times reports that Williamson went away to Scarborough, Yorkshire, on the week starting 3 August, just over a week before England’s A-level results came out. [...]
Back to Business: Merlin Labron-Johnson on how Covid could change hospitality for the better August 22, 2020 We talk to London’s top chefs about how they are dealing with the strange ‘new normal’. This week Merlin Labron-Johnson, chef-founder of Osip, speaks about the silver linings he found during lockdown. Who are you and what do you do? I’m Merlin Labron-Johnson and I’m the chef-owner of a little restaurant called Osip in Bruton, [...]
Lotus Esprit S3 review: Driving the coolest Bond car August 22, 2020 We sample a classic Lotus Esprit S3, a wedge-shaped British supercar that shines despite its flaws. Did we mention James Bond drove one?
Mark Hix on the best way to show off your mushrooms August 22, 2020 Times are tough, so let me make my usual reminder: foraging is free and you can find some of the best produce in this land or any other just by knowing what to look for. This dish is virtually free for those in the know – all that’s required is a bin bag and an [...]
