The Notebook: Ian Whittaker on the City’s listing problem March 6, 2023 An ex-CFO of a FTSE 100 company once said to me “I love seeing US investors because they recognise the role of the capital markets is to provide capital to grow.” “For UK investors, it is all about capital preservation and the dividends,” they continued. Capital growth and capital preservation: two phrases, one word difference. [...]
M&G set to be quizzed on takeover as Square Mile rumours swirl March 5, 2023 Bosses at asset management and insurance giant M&G are set to be quizzed by investors over a potential takeover swoop from Australian financial services Macquarie this week, as the firm updates the City with its full year results on Thursday. The update will mark chief executive Andrea Rossi’s first update at the helm of the [...]
Matt Hancock tried to ‘frighten pants off’ public with new Covid-19 strain March 5, 2023 Matt Hancock said he wanted to “frighten the pants off everyone” to ensure compliance with Covid-19 restrictions, according to leaked WhatsApp messages published by the Telegraph. Revelations have continued after a tranche of more than 100,000 messages was shared by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, leading to outcry over government actions during the pandemic. The latest set [...]
Keir Starmer should publish Sue Gray WhatsApps, Tories say, amid pro-Labour poll March 5, 2023 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer should publish any WhatsApp messages with Sue Gray ahead of her becoming his chief of staff, a Conservative minister has said. Starmer should publish his messages with the civil servant and partygate investigator to clear up questions about her move to the senior role, the Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris [...]
Weekend in sport: What’s on, when is it on and what channel is it on? March 3, 2023 The return of the Formula 1 season is the height of the sport action this weekend but domestic football and rugby, as well as the inaugural Women’s Premier League cricket continues. Here’s what you must watch this weekend. Golf: Arnold Palmer Invitational, Thursday – Sunday The PGA Tour continues this week with the Arnold Palmer [...]
Nadine Dorries brands partygate report a ‘stitch up’ after Sue Gray joins Starmer’s team March 2, 2023 Tory MPs have reacted to reports top civil servant Sue Gray is set to join Keir Starmer as his chief of staff, with one Boris Johnson ally branding her partygate report a “stitch up”. Gray has quit her civil service job and is reportedly set to join the Labour leader’s team. Nadine Dorries, former culture [...]
Sue Gray, civil servant who chaired inquiry into Boris Johnson ‘partygate’, reportedly hired as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff March 2, 2023 Top civil servant Sue Gray who carried out the partygate inquiry has reportedly been hired as Keir Starmer’s new chief of staff. Gray has quit her Cabinet Office post, according to the PA news agency, and is reportedly set to take up the key role in Sir Keir’s operation. It comes as Labour tries to [...]
Flutter shares tumble after World Cup wins knock profit March 2, 2023 The gambling business behind Paddy Power and Betfair saw its shares tumble almost five per cent, after the company missed 2022 earning estimates due to customers winning bets during the Fifa World Cup. Flutter Entertainment, which also owns Sky Betting and Gaming, was predicted earlier this year by Bloomberg analysts to gain EBITDA of £1.7bn [...]
London must be given power to direct its economy to arrest historic productivity decline, study urges March 2, 2023 London must be given greater power to direct its economy by central government to arrest a historic productivity decline, a new report out today has urged. Handing the capital more sway over tax and spending decisions, peeling back onerous planning rules and boosting graduate migration would help London return to being an economic growth engine [...]
Looney no muppet as he hits truth on work needed to go green March 1, 2023 It ain’t easy being green, sang Kermit the Frog once upon a time. The puppet-frog was right; moving towards net zero will require an extraordinary amount of hard work. So three cheers to Bernard Looney, the BP boss, for saying what so few are willing to say: the road to a greener future runs straight [...]