Co-op front runner in race to buy Sainsbury’s Bank’s £650m loan book, according to reports February 21, 2023 The Co-operative Bank has tabled an offer for Sainsbury’s Bank’s £650m loan portfolio being, according to reports by Sky News. The Co-operative bank is among a number of parties understood to have tabled a bid for the supermarket bank’s loan book . An insider cited by Sky News said the Co-operative “appeared to be the [...]
The Notebook: John O’Connell on corporation tax, rail subsidies, and dangerous books February 21, 2023 The Notebook is where interesting people say interesting things. Today, it’s John O’Connell, the chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, who riffs on corporation tax, 4.99 per cent council tax hikes and the books that have a little more spice than they used to The economy is doing slightly better than expected. Which, to be [...]
London leads the way: SME confidence rebounds to nine month high after 50,000 firms folded last year February 21, 2023 Confidence among small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) continues to grow across the UK, with London leading the way, new data out today showed. 60 per cent of respondents in the capital expect their revenue to grow this quarter while they intend to make 12 new hires this quarter, according to Barclays SME Barometer. London is [...]
Virgin Media O2 mulls £100m takeover bid for alternative network provider Trooli February 20, 2023 Virgin Media O2 is reportedly eyeing a takeover of Trooli, a Kent-based alternative broadband network provider. Virgin Media O2 is among a “substantial number” of parties exploring offers for Trooli as part of a formal bidding process, Sky News reported. Telecom industry sources told Sky News that the offer was likely to be worth over [...]
Planet Organic calls in advisers as it views sale to fund £30m growth plans February 20, 2023 Last September, the organic grocer said that it was looking to raise £30m over the next two years to help with the roll out of over 100 stores across the UK.
Tesco ‘considering sale’ of Tesco Bank, according to reports February 20, 2023 Tesco is considering selling Tesco Bank, according to Sky News which has reported that the supermarket giant has started a review process for its banking arm. The review is at a very early stage, according to insiders, and may not lead to a formal sale process. A partial sale or joint venture may also be [...]
Super sub Son scores off bench as Spurs move into top four February 19, 2023 Heung-Min Son responded to being dropped by coming off the bench to score the clinching goal as Tottenham Hotspur beat struggling West Ham United 2-0 on Sunday. Full-back Emerson Royal also registered as Spurs climbed to fourth in the Premier League and nudged Newcastle United out of the Champions League qualification spots. Son was left [...]
‘Great mistake’: Boris Johnson warns Rishi Sunak over post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol February 19, 2023 Boris Johnson has warned Rishi Sunak it would be a “great mistake” to drop the Northern Ireland protocol amid speculation a deal between the UK and the EU is close. It comes as a new post-Brexit trading arrangement for Northern Ireland is expected to emerge within days after the Prime Minister met with Stormont leaders [...]
UK military risks NATO downgrade, security think tank warns February 16, 2023 Britain risks no longer being NATO’s top military power in Europe, a think tank report has warned, in the midst of growing security issues. The French military has more troops, jets and ships than the UK, despite spending £13bn less on defence, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) found. France boasts 203,250 personnel compared [...]
Standing at the Sky’s Edge: Richard Hawley musical comes to the National Theatre February 16, 2023 Musicals are a tricky proposition for the National Theatre. They are pretty much guaranteed to fill seats but also invite the criticism that other theatres already have the genre well covered, and is it the kind of thing the National should be investing in? So there must have been a sigh of relief when Chris [...]