EU referendum: Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown launches fight-back amid speculation Labour has been absent in the battle so far June 13, 2016 The Labour party will today admit it has been on the backfoot during the EU referendum campaign, but pledge to “fight back” starting with a speech from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Significant Labour voices will be out campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU every day between now and the referendum amid concerns that [...]
EU referendum: British voters want a Norway-style arrangement if the UK votes for Brexit, poll reveals June 13, 2016 British voters want a "Norway-style" arrangement if the United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union, according to a new poll. A poll by free market think tank the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) has found that a deal resembling the relationship Norway has with the 28-member bloc would be supported to retain access to the [...]
Private equity firms close in on O2 as Telefonica prepares it for listing June 12, 2016 Two of Europe’s biggest private equity firms are plotting to team up on a bid for Telefonica’s UK mobile network O2. Apax Partners and CVC Capital are understood to have discussed forming a consortium to bid for the UK’s second largest mobile operator. The two buyout firms are working against the clock to put a [...]
EU referendum: BT to write joint memo with unions to warn of Brexit risks June 12, 2016 BT and a number of trade unions are to band together in warning its staff on the risks of leaving the European Union. The FTSE 100 company, along with unions representing tens of thousands of its workers, will sign off on a joint memo explaining the rationale behind their support of the EU. "We believe [...]
Channel 4 chief exec warns privatisation move would stop emergence of programmes like Gogglebox June 8, 2016 The chief executive of Channel 4 has warned that programmes like Gogglebox would struggle to emerge if the government introduced any form of privatisation. David Abraham is appearing alongside Channel 4’s chair, Charles Gurassa, before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee this afternoon. Read more: Channel 4 takes stake in content firm behind Bear Grylls' [...]
Gallery: When Muhammad Ali came to London — rarely seen pictures of “The Greatest” in the Big Smoke June 4, 2016 Muhammad Ali's global status and following is illustrated in the long list of locations to stage his fights that stretches far beyond heavyweight boxing's traditional orthodoxy of Las Vegas casinos or New York's Madison Square Garden. From Bavaria to the Bahamas, from the "Thrilla in Manila" to "The Rumble in the Jungle" in Zaire, Ali's [...]
Reform Openreach’s relationship with BT or public anger at the UK broadband market will only rise May 24, 2016 Anyone who read the papers last week might be forgiven for thinking that Britain’s broadband troubles are over. After years of rising anger about poor reliability, speed and coverage, a new piece of legislation is on the way, aiming to deliver universal coverage. Unfortunately, this is not a panacea and, while the recently announced Digital [...]
Tumblers at the ready – mixologists are being challenged to create the perfect cockatil for the Queen’s birthday May 23, 2016 Mixologists love nothing more than making cocktails to mark historic events. And now, true to form, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has launched a glamorous competition for mixologists to create the perfect cocktail to toast the Queen's birthday. British gin and English sparkling wine makers will battle it out to improve on one of [...]
Outgoing BT chairman wants better customer service to be his legacy May 22, 2016 The chairman of BT, Sir Mike Rake, has prioritised improving customer service before he steps down from the role in September next year. “We haven’t improved our customer service enough in recent years,” Rake told City A.M. BT has promised to better its service this year by bringing call centres back to the UK, taking on [...]
IP-O2: Mobile operator strongly considering stock market float May 22, 2016 O2 is strongly considering a stock market flotation, City A.M. understands. An initial public offering (IPO) is one of a number of options being looked at by the mobile operator following its failed merger with Three. However private equity firms are understood to be planning bids for O2, owned by Spanish company Telefonica, which could be [...]