Rail union boss ‘not seen anyone from government’ since January as fresh strikes bring UK to a halt May 31, 2023 Rail union Aslef’s general secretary has said he “hasn’t seen anyone from government” since 6 January, as workers start a wave of strikes, bringing trains to a halt across the country. “They are not interested, they don’t care, they are not interested in a resolution to this dispute,” he told Kay Burley’s Sky News Breakfast [...]
London businesses most confident in the UK amid economic slowdown May 31, 2023 London businesses are poised to lead the UK economy out of its slowdown, although they remain acutely concerned about the impact of higher interest rates and scorching inflation, a new survey out today shows. Confidence among the capital’s firms slimmed four points to 43 per cent, although that was the highest reading of any area [...]
CBI seeks legal advice on insolvency ahead of culture reboot announcement today May 31, 2023 THE embattled business trade body the CBI is expected to lay out a series of measures today which it hopes will allow it to put a sexual harassment scandal behind it. The CBI, Britain’s biggest business trade body and for decades a mouthpiece for the country’s largest businesses, has been hit with a wave of accusations in recent [...]
Labour ‘set to rule out’ all further North Sea oil and gas projects May 28, 2023 New North Sea oil and gas developments will reportedly be blocked under a Labour government. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is on the verge of announcing the block when he sets out his net-zero energy policy in Scotland next month, The Sunday Times said. As part of the energy plans, the newspaper reported a Sir [...]
Cazoo debtholders bring in bankers to advise on key talks May 26, 2023 Lenders to Cazoo, the online car retailer, have enlisted bankers to lead talks with the group about a £510m debt restructuring. According to reports today from Sky News’ Mark Kleinmann, funds with more than £500m held in the London-based firm, have enlisted PJT Partners to advise them on negotiations with the company. Cazoo has faced [...]
New Look in talks with lenders to refinance £100m debt May 26, 2023 New Look is reportedly in talks with its lenders to refinance £100m of debt amid a challenging time for the British fashion chain. New Look is understood to be working with advisers at Deloitte on exploring options for a term loan which ends its June 2024, according to reports in Sky News. Sources told the [...]
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt says Bank must act – even if hikes slow UK economy May 26, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has backed interest rate hikes being used to calm soaring inflation even if they increase the risk of pushing the UK into recession. Mr Hunt insisted in an interview aired on Friday that the “only path to sustainable growth” is to bring down the high prices behind the cost-of-living crisis. The Bank [...]
Top City investor: Rate hikes and gilt spike WILL throw UK economy into recession May 26, 2023 A top Square Mile economist has warned that further rate hikes and the increasing price of government debt means the UK will struggle to avoid recession. Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme this morning, Abrdn’s investment director Luke Hickmore said that incomes were set to come “under a lot of pressure” after the Square Mile [...]
Asda owners tying up £10bn merger with petrol giant EG May 25, 2023 The billionaire owners of Asda and petrol giant EG are reportedly gearing up to tie a ribbon on their £10bn merger in Britain. The deal, which will create a cluster of 170,000 employees and revenues of £30bn, is set to be announced on Friday, according to reports in Sky News. If confirmed, the group will [...]
Maserati MC20 Cielo review: The sky’s the limit May 25, 2023 We drive the Maserati MC20 Cielo, a drop-top supercar designed for azure Mediterranean skies. How will it fare on a grey day in Britain?