Christmas comes early for Uber as burdensome regulations look set to be disregarded December 23, 2015 Uber is expected to receive an early Christmas present today as a raft of burdensome regulations that would have effectively shut the firm down in the capital look set to be disregarded after fierce opposition from business groups and consumers. The final responses to a Transport for London (TfL) consultation on how to better regulate [...]
There’s nothing new in the Uber vs Taxi debate December 23, 2015 As the year draws to an end, so too might a raging battle on the capital’s streets inch towards a conclusion with the culmination of a Transport for London consultation on the future of the city’s private hire industry. Elements of the traditional black cab industry have been at war with Uber since the American [...]
A Christmas competition with a difference – and the chance to win a bottle of champagne December 22, 2015 For the prolonged holiday break, a quiz is appropriate. But one with a difference: not just questions, but comments to go with them. A prize of a bottle of champagne to the best answers – just email them to me. The last couple of years have seen the rise of populist left-wing movements. Syriza [...]
HMRC national task force considering clampdown on eBay and Amazon over VAT fraud by overseas retailers December 22, 2015 The government is considering forcing online retailers such as Amazon and eBay to pay for millions of pounds of unpaid VAT owed by small overseas traders that sell through their sites. Lord Ashton of Hyde, a Treasury spokesperson, told the House of Lords on Monday evening that HM Revenue & Customs had established a national [...]
How to use contacts and influence customer service workers: M&A adviser lets rip on Nationwide boss Graham Beale December 22, 2015 Working in finance comes with many perks. Even after the salaries, bonuses and outings with clients, there’s still fun to be found in terrorising the customer service workers of your colleagues and rivals’ banks. One M&A adviser has been using the opportunity to practise his boardroom bulldog tactics. Nicky Samengo-Turner, adviser with Hundon Hall, has [...]
What is Father Christmas called around the world? December 22, 2015 In the United Kingdom Father Christmas is sometimes more commonly referred to as Santa Claus, or just plain old Santa. But around the world people may not recognise either name for the man who delivers Christmas presents. Read more: UK retailers scramble to rescue Christmas Well, to avoid confusion, a 26-year-old Czech by the name of Jakud Marian [...]
Regent Street reopened after security threat caused by suspicious vehicle December 22, 2015 Regent Street was reopened this afternoon after police declared the major shopping district safe following an earlier evacuation. Around 200 metres of the road within London's major shopping district was cordoned off during lunch time today. A police bomb disposal unit investigated what was thought to be a suspicious vehicle, but the road was opened shortly afterwards. Eyewitnesses said there [...]
US GDP growth revised down to two per cent December 22, 2015 The US economy grew at slightly slower rate than previously estimated between July and September, according to figures released today. The economy expanded at an annual pace of two per cent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis' (BEA) third estimate of GDP, down from 2.1 per cent in the second estimate. The BEA said the [...]
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and even Lidl supermarkets slash Christmas 2015 advertising spend December 22, 2015 Britain's beleaguered supermarkets have slashed the amount of cash they are spending on advertising over Christmas this year, with Tesco and Sainsbury's cutting budgets by as much as 30 per cent. Troubled Tesco made the biggest cuts to its festive advertising, spending almost £3m less in a four week run up to the big day compared to last [...]
How much tax do you have to pay on a partridge in a pear tree this Christmas? December 22, 2015 It's the question you all wanted to know the answer to. If you were going to give your true love a partridge in a pear tree, and the rest, what are the tax liabilities? How much would the taxman make, and are the gold rings deductible? Well, with the help of the Institute of Chartered [...]