Persimmon builds up sales to pre-Covid levels April 28, 2021 Sales at housebuilder Persimmon for 2021 so far are 23 per cent ahead of last year, meanwhile, it has set aside £75m to address the issue of flammable high-rise cladding. With the average price for homes sold to private owners at around £252,000, the group enjoyed £3bn in sales in the first quarter of 2021, [...]
Prince Andrew sets up company with disgraced financier accused of sexual harassment April 27, 2021 Prince Andrew has set up a company with a disgraced former Coutts banker who quit after being accused of sexual harassment. The Duke of York has gone into business with Harry Keogh, a former banker at Coutts who resigned in March 2018 following a slew of sexual harassment claims, including that he inappropriately touched young [...]
Kill the Bill protestors rally across London April 3, 2021 Protesters rallied across central London today against a policing bill that could see officers handed sweeping powers to curb the right to protest. Demonstrators flocked to Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and Westminster this afternoon following marches in Finsbury Park last night, in what has been dubbed a National Week of Action against the new proposals. [...]
Lloyd’s of London may ditch strict dress code after 335 years March 26, 2021 Lloyd’s of London could ditch its strict dress code policy for the first time in its 335-year history, with some brokers calling for the “stuffy” attire to be scrapped. Lloyd’s staff who work in one of the City of London’s most iconic buildings are expected to abide by a strict dress code. Men are expected [...]
City Moves: Who is switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? March 24, 2021 Snakes and Ladders provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. BDBF lands former Slater & Gordon’s head Employment law firm BDBF has hired former national head of employment at Slater & Gordon’s as its new equity partner. Most recently a partner at employment [...]
Sturgeon off the hook: Scotland’s First Minister cleared of wrongdoing March 22, 2021 Nicola Sturgeon did not breach the Scottish ministerial code over her handling of the Alex Salmond harassment case, an independent investigation has ruled. James Hamilton, Scotland’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, handed out the judgement this afternoon more than two years after Sturgeon referred herself for investigation. Hamilton examined whether the First Minister “attempted to [...]
Misogyny to be recorded as a hate crime from autumn March 18, 2021 Police will record misogyny as a hate crime in England and Wales from the autumn, following wide scale protests about the treatment of women in the UK following the murder of Sarah Everard. Home Office minister Baroness Williams said police forces around the country will be instructed to record cases of harassment and stalking as [...]
To stop women like Sarah Everard going missing, the conversation must start with men March 10, 2021 When I was at school, probably around 16-years-old, I was told not to have my hair in a ponytail if I was walking home at night. Potential attackers will likely be drawn in by a hairstyle which is easier to grab, I was told, by a male coach brought in to talk to us about [...]
Ex-law firm staffer banned over sexually explicit WhatsApp messages March 9, 2021 An ex-member of staff at listed law firm DWF has been banned from working in the legal profession after he sexually harassed a junior colleague. Matthew Unwin was employed as a financial management executive in DWF’s Manchester office. He was dismissed on 25 September 2018 for gross misconduct after working at the firm for six [...]
Nicola Sturgeon faces calls to resign over Alex Salmond revelations March 3, 2021 Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is facing calls to resign amid claims she lied to Parliament over her involvement in the Alex Salmond saga. The Scottish government has published emails showing it continued a doomed legal fight with Salmond despite lawyers saying it was likely to lose. In a devastating blow before her appearance at [...]