Top bosses hit out at Labour over jobs tax April 7, 2010 THERE was anger among business leaders yesterday, after the Prime Minister said they had been “deceived” into supporting Tory plans to scrap the hike in National Insurance. A further 30 business leaders added their name to a letter supporting the Conservative position on the “tax on jobs” yesterday, taking the total number of signatories to [...]
Dan Stewart chief heralds a growth era April 6, 2010 ADAM Wilson, the incoming chief executive of broker Daniel Stewart, aims to turn around the ailing business via an aggressive push to raise regional capital around the world, including on the fast-growing US equivalent of the Alternative Investment Market (Aim). Wilson, who previously turned around both Hichens Harrison and Teather & Greenwood before selling both [...]
Osborne ups the ante in job tax stand-off April 5, 2010 SHADOW chancellor George Osborne yesterday stepped up his attack on the government over plans to hike national insurance contributions (NICs), claiming the “job tax” would be the fastest way to reverse the budding economic recovery. George Osborne also insisted that the Tories have no plans for further tax rises, despite repeated claims from Labour that [...]
…and FTSE chiefs agree March 31, 2010 THE top dogs of Britain’s business community have backed Conservative plans to reverse National Insurance rises for those earning less than £45,000. In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, they said Labour’s 1p in the pound rise in April had come at the wrong time and could result in heavy job losses. The 23 signatories [...]
Lloyds throws weight behind Daniels amid succession talk March 29, 2010 LLOYDS Banking Group last night moved to quash speculation that chief executive Eric Daniels is about to be replaced. Talks of Lloyds hiring City head hunter JCA Group to draw up a short list of potential candidates was dismissed by the banking giant, which threw its weight behind Daniels. A spokesperson said: “Eric Daniels is [...]
Think tank calls for curbs on costly EU regulation March 29, 2010 THE SOARING costs of red tape came under the spotlight yesterday as a new report found that regulation has cost the UK economy £176bn over the past 12 years. Of that amount, around 71 per cent – or £124bn – was spent on complying with legislation from the EU, according to think tank Open Europe. [...]
FTSE 100 soars to 21-month high boosted by Greek bailout March 25, 2010 BRITAIN’S top shares hit a 21-month closing high for the third day in a row yesterday, helped by a rally in banks as sovereign debt concerns faded, while retailers were boosted by upbeat results from Next and UK retail sales. The FTSE 100 ended 49.77 points higher at 5,727.65, finishing above the 5,700-mark for the [...]
McCall leaves the Guardian March 23, 2010 EASYJET last night unveiled Carolyn McCall as its new chief executive, replacing Andy Harrison who stands down in June. The decision by McCall, currently head of Guardian Media Group (GMG), shocked the media world. Her move comes after GMG posted pre-tax losses of £90m in the year to March 2009, compared with a profit of [...]
M&S pay deal irks investors March 21, 2010 DISGRUNTLED investors in Marks & Spencer are agitating for an overhaul of the company’s board after details of Sir Stuart Rose’s pay sparked a fresh row over corporate governance. Rose will draw an £875,000 salary, plus a bonus, when he moves to the post of non-executive chairman in the summer to make way for incoming [...]
M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose sets departure date as he takes a pay cut March 18, 2010 Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose is to give up his executive duties and take a 25 per cent pay cut in July with a view to stepping down by March 2011, the company announced yesterday. Under fire since taking on the dual roles of chief executive and chairman two years ago, Rose had [...]