Virgin Media O2 owners raising fresh capital to supercharge fast fibre broadband roll out January 31, 2022 Virgin Media O2’s owners are looking to raise hundreds of millions of pounds from investors as the merged firm looks to ramp up investment into fibre broadband across the country.
Truss: UK willing to sanction Russian oligarchs close to Putin over Ukraine January 30, 2022 The UK will level tough sanctions on Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin if he invades Ukraine, Liz Truss has said. The foreign secretary said she would next week introduce legislation in parliament that will “target more Russian interests that are of direct reliance to the Kremlin” and that the sanctions would come in place [...]
Brookfield Property Partners to launch £4bn auction for Center Parcs UK January 29, 2022 Property giant Brookfield Property Partners is reportedly launching a £4bn auction to sell its subsidiary Center Parks UK, Britain’s largest chain of holiday villages. Brookfield’s decision comes after Center Parks UK reported £120m in EBITDA earnings in the half year ended 7 October as a result of Covid restrictions and the consequent surge in staycations. [...]
Scotland Yard urges Sue Gray to make only ‘minimal reference’ to events investigated by police January 28, 2022 Scotland Yard asked for the Whitehall inquiry into allegations of lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street to make only “minimal reference” to the events being investigated by police. In a statement, it said: “For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report. “The Met did [...]
Corbin & King ‘under siege’ from investor Minor International January 27, 2022 The founder of the restaurant chain behind the Wolseley has reassured customers the business is in “rude financial health” after it was plunged into administration this week. Administrators from FRP were appointed for Corbin & King earlier this week, although the chain’s restaurants have continued to trade. Founder Jeremy King has now hit back once [...]
Comcast defies Wall Street estimates but falls down on broadband January 27, 2022 Comcast defied Wall Street estimates today, reporting fourth-quarter earnings of $3.06bn (£2.29bn), and boosting streaming numbers. This placed earnings per share at 77 cents adjusted, in parallel to the 73 cents estimated. The owner of Sky increased its dividend by eight per cent to 27 cents per quarter, and Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief [...]
Starling Bank and Barclays in the race to carve up Kensington January 27, 2022 Digital challenger bank Starling and Barclays are among the names looking to snap up a piece of mortgage lender Kensington after its private equity owners put the firm up for sale last year, according to reports. Starling is reportedly up against Barclays and another high street lender to buy Kensington’s lending platform, while american investment [...]
Did he or did he not? Boris Johnson under pressure to clarify role in Afghan animal airlift January 27, 2022 The Prime Minister is coming under increasing pressure to explain his role in the evacuation of animals from Afghanistan amid reports he did influence their removal from Kabul, despite his denials. No 10 has repeatedly said Johnson had no involvement in pushing for help for the charity Nowzad, after accusations that officials’ time was taken [...]
The battle of London’s protected views exposes the power mismatch on housing January 27, 2022 If you’re reading this newspaper, you live in London and hopefully you love it. If you don’t love it, perhaps you still recognize its unique flavour. London is a melting pot where history finds innovation, where the majestic cathedral of St Paul’s neighbours the skyscrapers of the City. This concoction of old and new, of [...]
Westminster nervously awaits Sue Gray report on partygate as police probe shoots to top of Boris Johnson’s priority list January 26, 2022 Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said No 10 had still not received the Sue Gray report on Wednesday morning. Truss was asked on Sky News this morning: “Are we right in saying that Downing Street hasn’t yet received the Sue Gray report?” She responded: “That’s correct. And, of course, it’s an independent report, it’s a matter [...]