‘Distressing decline’: UK construction sector contracts again November 4, 2019 The UK construction sector shrank once again in October, survey data has shown, with civil engineering suffering its worst month in a decade as Brexit uncertainty continued to plague the industry. Read more: UK economy to hit decade low even with Brexit deal, report warns The construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – a gauge of [...]
Tories unveil domestic policy pledges ahead of election November 4, 2019 The Conservative Party has announced four domestic policies on low pay, prisons, police and education as it gears up for a general election next month. The policy pledges included an independent review backing plans for an increase to the national living wage and investment at seven prisons to help reduce drug smuggling and the use [...]
Eurozone manufacturing stuck in steepest decline for seven years November 4, 2019 The health of the eurozone’s embattled manufacturing sector remained in the depths of a seven-year low last month, with Germany remaining the main point of weakness in the bloc’s economy. Factory output showed little sign of picking up last month, with IHS Markit’s Eurozone manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) hitting 45.9 in October. While the [...]
Marston’s sells off 137 pubs for £45m as it looks to slash debt pile November 4, 2019 Marston’s has offloaded 137 pubs to Admiral Taverns in a deal worth almost £45m. As part of a plan to slash its debt by £200m over the next four years, the British brewery giant has sold a portfolio of pubs that contributed operating profit of £3.7m in the last 12 months. Read more: Pubs cash [...]
City firms must prove their responsible business credentials to attract top talent November 4, 2019 Brexit has been top of the agenda for many City firms, but there is so much more that they should be thinking about. When I speak to young City workers at the start of their careers, they want to know that their employers are standing up and making a positive difference. They want to work [...]
UK economy to hit decade-low even with Brexit deal, report warns November 4, 2019 Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal will fail to boost the slowing UK economy in 2020, a new report has warned, with weak global growth and continued uncertainty about Britain’s trading relationships set to outweigh any benefits from the agreement. Read more: Nigel Farage: Brexit party will run in every seat if Boris Johnson rejects olive branch [...]
Christmas can come too early – or at least the adverts can November 3, 2019 It’s just days since Halloween, but the Christmas advert season is well and truly upon us already. But not everyone is feeling festive yet. Market researcher Kantar Group has revealed that 67 per cent of shoppers think the adverts are too early. Read more: Toxic Tube a health hazard for commuters On the other hand, [...]
Boris Johnson feels ‘deep regret’ for missing his 31 October Brexit deadline November 3, 2019 Boris Johnson has apologised to Conservative party members for not fulfilling his 31 October “do or die” Brexit pledge. The Prime Minister continually claimed he would not ask for a Brexit extension, saying “he would rather die in a ditch” than ask Brussels to extend the 31 October deadline. Read more: Nigel Farage will not [...]
‘Financially illiterate’: Tim Martin has a scathing assessment of Glass Lewis advisory service November 3, 2019 Tim Martin, the boss of JD Wetherspoon pubs, has launched a broadside against shareholder adviser Glass Lewis, after it said investors should vote against the company’s pay policy. Glass Lewis, which is the second-biggest shareholder advisory service in the world, raised concerns about a “significant” increase in pay for the pub group’s finance chief for [...]
Former business minister Margot James will not run in the election November 3, 2019 Former business minister and Tory rebel Margot James will not stand at next month’s general election due to insufficient support from her local Conservative party. James was one of 21 Tory MPs to have the party whip removed in September for voting with opposition parties to stop a no-deal Brexit. Read more: Ten ex-Tory rebels [...]